Deposition refers to which process?

Deposition refers to which process?

• A. Moving sediments from one location to another
• B. The erosion by wind
• C. The dropping or settling of sediments that were carried to a new location by wind, water, or ice
• D. The melting of ice

Answer: (C)

Deposition is the dropping or settling of sediments that were carried to a new location by wind, water, or ice. It happens when the moving material loses enough energy to let particles fall out of suspension or out of a moving medium and come to rest on the surface. This is different from erosion, which is the process of wearing away and moving material from one place to another. It’s also not about melting ice, which changes ice to liquid water rather than leaving behind settled sediments. Think of a river slowing and dropping sand along its banks, wind forming sand dunes as it loses carrying power, or a glacier releasing debris as it melts. Over long time, these settled sediments can become layered rock through compaction andcementation.

Deposition is the dropping or settling of sediments that were carried to a new location by wind, water, or ice. It happens when the moving material loses enough energy to let particles fall out of suspension or out of a moving medium and come to rest on the surface. This is different from erosion, which is the process of wearing away and moving material from one place to another. It’s also not about melting ice, which changes ice to liquid water rather than leaving behind settled sediments. Think of a river slowing and dropping sand along its banks, wind forming sand dunes as it loses carrying power, or a glacier releasing debris as it melts. Over long time, these settled sediments can become layered rock through compaction andcementation.