Name: Coney Jane G.

Macalos

Year&Section: BSCE-2A

Geological works of Rivers

A river is one of the major geological agents which carries out its work. The work is mainly
divided into three stages, namely

1. River Erosion

2. River Transportation

3. River Deposition

River Erosion

Erosion means mechanical disintegration or chemical decomposition of rocks are transported from
the site with the help of natural agencies like wind and running water (or) subsequent displacement.
River is a powerful eroding agent and carries out its work in different ways.

Methods of River Erosion

1. Hydraulic action: The pressure of water breaks away rock particles from the river bed and
banks. The force of the water hits river banks and then pushes water into cracks. Air becomes
compressed, pressure increases and the riverbank may, in time collapse. Where velocity is high
e.g. the outer bend of meaner, hydraulic action can remove material from the banks which may
lead to undercutting and river bank collapse. Near waterfalls and rapids, the force may be strong
enough to work on lines of weakness in joints and bedding planes until they are eroded.

2. Cavitation: Small vapor bubbles form in a liquid under low pressure, then rapidly collapse when
moving to a high-pressure area, creating localized shockwaves that can damage solid surfaces,
essentially "eroding" the material through repeated impacts; this typically occurs in high-velocity
fluid flows like those found in pumps, propellers, or around underwater structures.

3. Abrasion: The sediment carried by a river scours the bed and banks. This process results in the
hurling of the rock fragments against the sides of the river and their rolling against the bottom of
the river. Abrasion takes place in two manners:
  Lateral Abrasion: This results in sideways erosion and the widening of the V-shaped
valley.
 Vertical Abrasion: It is associated with the downward action of the river leading to the
deepening of the river channel.

4. Attrition: Eroded rocks collide and break into smaller fragments. The edges of these rocks
become smoother and more rounded. Attrition makes the particles of rock smaller. It does not
erode the bed and bank. Pieces of river sediment become smaller and more rounded as they move
downstream.

5. Corrosion: Carbon dioxide dissolves in the river to form a weak acid. This dissolves rock by
chemical processes. This process is common where carbonate rocks such as limestone and chalk
are evident in a channel.

Distinct Landforms created by River Erosion

1. Waterfalls

o When the river water falls down almost vertically from a sufficient height along the course of the
river, it forms a waterfall.
o In the course of the river, there is the presence of hard and soft rocks at several places. The soft
rocks are eroded easily and quickly, and the river bed is lower at the place of soft rock. Thus, the
water falls from a height, and a waterfall is created.

2. Gorges
 A gorge is a narrow valley with steep, rocky walls. Gorges are usually smaller than
canyons, although both words are used to describe deep, narrow valleys with a stream or river
running along the bottom.
Apart from retreating waterfalls, gorges can also be formed by other natural actions,
including the movement and melting of glaciers, the collapse of caverns or caves, geologic uplift
(the elevation of earth's surface due to natural causes) and rivers and streams simply 'carving'
through layers of rock over millions of years.

3. Potholes

o Potholes are kettle-shaped depressions in the rocky

beds of river valleys. They are usually formed in
coarse-grained rocks such as granites and sandstones.

Formation:
o Whenever a soft rock comes in the way of the river, it is eroded and scattered all around. This
results in the formation of eddies, and water whirls around and produces depression by plucking
the sediment. This makes the depression deep and cylindrical.
o Stone pieces also enter the potholes along with water and act as grinders enlarging the diameter
and depth of the holes.
o The potholes have a diameter varying from a few centimeters to several meters.
o The depth of a pothole is greater than its diameter.
o Potholes of much larger size are called Plunge pools.
4. River valleys

Through the process of erosion by a

flowing river, where the water gradually
wears down the land over time, carving out
a channel and deepening it, resulting in a
valley with steep sides, often appearing V-
shaped in the upper course of the river; as
the river matures, the valley widens and
flattens out due to deposition of sediment
on the valley floor.
 5. V-shaped Valleys

o Most of the world’s rivers have formed V-shaped valleys.

Such valleys are normally formed in areas of sufficient
rainfall where the rocks are not very hard.
o Downcutting and side or lateral cutting are done
simultaneously by the river, and a V-shaped valley is
formed.
o The valleys are gradually widened due to lateral erosion
with the advancement of the cycle of erosion, and they
become broad with flat valley floors and rectilinear valley
slopes in the mature stage.

Interlocking Spurs

o Interlocking spurs are ridges of hard rock that are resistant to the flow of the river.

o They are formed when a river is forced to swing side to side around the spurs of hard rock with
an interlock.

River Meandering

Meandering refers to the winding, curving path that rivers take as they flow across relatively flat
landscapes. Meanders form due to erosion on the outer bends (Where the water flows faster) and the
position on the inner bends (where the water flows slower). Overtime, this process creates sweeping
curves and oxbow lakes.

River Transportation

River transportation is the process by which rivers move eroded material downstream. This
material includes dissolved substances, suspended matter, and bedload.
Three Categories of Transported Materials

1. Bed load

Comprises heavier particles of sand, pebbles, gravels etc. which are transported mainly
by their rolling, skipping, along the bottom of stream.

2. Suspended load

Consists of silt, fine sands, clay etc. and such load is carried by river in its body of
water in suspension. As the river is moved, the load is also carried along with it. Thus, load is
transported continuously without break till conditions are favorable. This type of natural
suspension and separation of sediments account to their size is called Sorting.

3. Dissolved load:

Material is transported in a solution condition. The ability to transport the sediments is

influenced by river velocity, density etc.

River Deposition

The last phase of geological work of a river. When a river loses it energy, it deposits materials,
forming key landforms.

 Fluvial Deposits
Fluvial deposition involves sediments being transported and deposited by rivers in a
continental environment, leading to the formation of various landforms.
 Floodplains:

It is a landform created by the deposition of sediment carried by a river,

specifically the flat area adjacent to a river channel that gets inundated during floods and
accumulates sediment over time; essentially, a floodplain is a primary area where a river
deposits its sediment load when overflowing its banks.
 Delta deposits:

Most of the rivers reach this stage

just before they merge with the sea.
Deltas are very fertile and valuable for
agriculture.
o Arcuate Delta: Fan shaped,
convex towards sea.
o Digitate/Bird’s foot delta:
Finger like pattern reflecting
the number of distributary
streams
o Estuarine Delta: Develops at
the mouth of a submerged
river, long and narrow.
 o Cuspate Delta: Tooth shaped symmetrical delta formed over a straight coastline

 Alluvial cones and fans:

River sediment is
known as alluvium. If
the deposit is spread
over a small area but has
a relatively steep slope, it
is called an alluvial cone.
On the other hand, if the
deposit is spread over a
large area and has a
gentle slope, it is called
an alluvial fan.

 Channel Deposits:

Sediments that accumulate

directly within the river channel,
such as gravel, sand, and silt,
forming features like bars and point
bars.

Importance of the Geological Works of Rivers to Engineering

 Understanding rivers’ geological work (erosion, transportation, and deposition) is crucial in
engineering for planning infrastructure, preventing disasters, and ensuring the long-term stability of
projects like dams, bridges, and coastal developments.

Foundation Stability:

Rivers can erode or deposit materials, impacting the stability of foundations for buildings,
bridges, and other structures. Understanding the fluvial processes and landforms helps engineers design
foundations that can withstand the forces of erosion and deposition.

Flood Control and River Management:

Knowledge of river dynamics, including erosion patterns, sediment transport, and floodplains, is
essential for effective flood control measures and river management strategies.

Water Resources and Irrigation:

Rivers are a primary source of water for human use, including drinking water, irrigation, and
industrial processes. Understanding the geological processes that shape river systems is vital for
managing water resources sustainably.

Coastal Engineering:

Coastal areas are often influenced by river systems, and understanding the geological processes
of river deltas and estuaries is crucial for planning coastal infrastructure, such as ports, roads, and
settlements.

Geological Hazards:

Rivers can also cause geological hazards, such as landslides, erosion, and flooding.
Understanding the geological processes that lead to these hazards helps engineers develop strategies to
mitigate their impacts.

Material Selection:

River’s transport and deposit various materials, including sand, gravel, and clay. Engineers need
to understand the composition and properties of these materials to select suitable materials for
construction projects.

Infrastructure Planning:

Understanding the geological history of an area and the potential for future geological changes is
crucial for planning infrastructure projects, such as dams, tunnels, and roads.

References:

• https://methodist.edu.in/web/uploads/files/UNIT_1_INTRODUCTION%20123%20.docx
• https://www.alevelgeography.com/the-long-profile-changing-processes-types-of-erosion-
transportation-and-deposition/
• https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/landforms-created-by-river
• https://rsiasacademy.com/major-landforms/