Sediment Sorting

Sorting is the variability in grain size in a clastic sedimentary rock. This parameter measures how well a sediment has been 'sorted' by the process that transported it. A sediment can be - very well sorted nearly all grains have the same size - well sorted most grains fall in a single grain size class with few outliers - moderately sorted more than one grain sizes are present

Sorting describes the distribution of grain size of sediments, either in unconsolidated deposits or in sedimentary rocks. The degree of sorting is determined by the range of grain sizes in a sediment deposit and is the result of various transport processes rivers, debris flow, wind, glaciers, etc..

Clast Size amp Sorting When studying sedimentary rocks, the one of the most obvious aspects will be the particle or clast size. Determining whether a sedimentary rock is composed of sand-sized, silt or clay, or gravel is the first step in identifying clastic sedimentary rocks. The following table defines these terms based on average particle diameter.

Understanding the sediment sorting and transport processes is is crucial for enhancing the understanding of soil erosion mechanisms and improving soil erosion prediction. However, quantitative studies based on the coupling effects of both hydraulic parameters and soil properties are still lacking.

This article reviews the mechanisms that sort bed material by size during sediment entrainment, transport and deposition and discusses some of the inter-relationships that exist between patterns and processes of sediment sorting at different spatial and temporal scales.

Sorting The ability of running water to move sediments also sorts particles by size and to a lesser degree by shape. This is called sorting illustrated in Figure 6.52. Sediments exposed to longer transport or exposure to currents and waves tend to be more sorted by shape and size.

Sorting, or separation of clasts into similar sizes, also happens during sediment transport. Sorting occurs because the size of grains that a medium of transport can move is limited by the medium's velocity and density.

A lesson plan for upper elementary students to learn about sediment sorting and how it relates to sedimentary rock formation. Students will perform an experiment using different sizes of sediments in a jar and observe the layering and sorting patterns.

Sorting can reflect both sediment source andor transport, with aeolian-transported sediments being among the best sorted and glacial sediments being among the poorest sorted. The measurement of the degree of sorting of a grain-size distribution can be given by any of the statistical dispersion measurements the standard deviation is the most common. The kurtosis or quotpeakednessquot has also

What does sorting tell you? Generally, sediment sorting improves along the sediment transport path. Poorly sorted sediments were usually deposited quickly e.g. in storm beds or from flowsmudflows. Better sorted sediments may have been reworked by wind or water. e.g. Sand deposits on beaches, in shallow seas or in deserts