Changes

Deltaic bodies are generally classified into three major categories or end-members on the basis of the dominant sediment transport process that influences their facies constituents and external geometries. These three end-members are as follows:

Deltaic bodies are generally classified into three major categories or end-members on the basis of the dominant sediment transport process that influences their facies constituents and external geometries. These three end-members are as follows:

* ''River- or [[fluvially dominated deltas]]'' (such as the Mississippi River delta) are those in which [[wave processes|wave]] and [[tidal processes|tidal]] energy is low and river transport processes dominate. Sandstone bodies in these systems tend to form well-developed sand bars at the mouths of [[distributary channels]]. River-dominated systems periodically abandon their lower course and begin deposition in an adjacent area resulting in the deposition of sandstone bodies over a fairly large area.

* ''River- or [[fluvially dominated delta]]s'' (such as the Mississippi River delta) are those in which [[wave processes|wave]] and [[tidal processes|tidal]] energy is low and river transport processes dominate. Sandstone bodies in these systems tend to form well-developed sand bars at the mouths of [[distributary channel]]s. River-dominated systems periodically abandon their lower course and begin deposition in an adjacent area resulting in the deposition of sandstone bodies over a fairly large area.

* ''[[Wave-dominated deltas]]'' (such as the Nile and Rhone deltas) are those in which wave energy at the coast exceeds either the fluvial or the tidal energy. Wave reworking causes sand to be formed into shore-parallel bodies that are cuspate at distributary mouths.

* ''[[Wave-dominated deltas]]'' (such as the Nile and Rhone deltas) are those in which wave energy at the coast exceeds either the fluvial or the tidal energy. Wave reworking causes sand to be formed into shore-parallel bodies that are cuspate at distributary mouths.

* ''[[Tidally dominated deltas]]'' (such as the Gulf of Papua delta) are those in which the tidal energy exceeds that of either wave or fluvial processes. Sand deposited by the distributaries is reworked by tidal currents into elongate sand ridges that are generally perpendicular to the regional coastline.

* ''[[Tidally dominated deltas]]'' (such as the Gulf of Papua delta) are those in which the tidal energy exceeds that of either wave or fluvial processes. Sand deposited by the distributaries is reworked by tidal currents into elongate sand ridges that are generally perpendicular to the regional coastline.