The Sediments and Sedimentary Processes of the Holocene Tidal Flat Complex, Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia.
Abstract
The tidal flat complex along the Atlantic coast of the southern Delmarva (Delaware-Maryland-Virginia) Peninsula lies at the distal end of littoral drifts along a gentle seacoast. The mean tide range is 1.0 to 1.5 m, and the gradual slope of the continental shelf reduces wave action to moderate or low levels. Such a low-energy siliciclastic tidal flat deposit has not been previously described, yet it is this low-energy kind of tidal flat that was probably common in ancient epeiric seas. The sediments of this tidal flat complex are primarily mud in contrast to the sand which characterizes the northern Delmarva sedimentary environments. Two fundamentally different processes (pelletization by organisms and tidal current transport with gravity settling) have been proposed to account for the accumulation of such fine-grained sediments. This report describes the textures, biota, and depositional structures of the Delmarva tidal flat deposits; emphasis is placed on the main sedimentary processes accounting for their accumulation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0745754
Entities
People
- Stanley C. Harrison
Organizations
- Louisiana State University