Alluvial fan
Alluvial Fan
Alluvial fan (pronunciation: /əˈluːviəl fæn/) is a geological term that describes a fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain.
Etymology
The term "alluvial" originates from the Latin word "alluvius" which means "washed up". This is in reference to the process by which material is deposited by water flow. The term "fan" is used to describe the shape that these deposits often take, spreading out in a broad, fan-like manner.
Definition
An alluvial fan is a fan- or cone-shaped deposit of sediment crossed and built up by streams. If a fan is built up by debris flow, it is properly called a debris cone or colluvial fan. These flows come from a single point source at the apex of the fan, and over time move to occupy many positions on the fan surface. They typically form at the base of topographic features where there is a marked decrease in slope.
Related Terms
- Alluvium: General term for clay, silt, sand, gravel, or similar unconsolidated detrital material, deposited during comparatively recent geologic time by a stream or other body of running water.
- Bajada: An amalgamation of several alluvial fans which can form a larger fan-shaped deposit.
- Fluvial: Processes associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and landforms created by them.
- Sediment: Solid material that is moved and deposited in a new location. Sediment can consist of rocks and minerals, as well as the remains of plants and animals.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alluvial fan
- Wikipedia's article - Alluvial fan
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