Which process involves deposition of sediment by flowing water?

• A. River deposition
• B. Glacial deposition
• C. Aeolian deposition
• D. Chemical precipitation

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how sediment settles out of moving water. When a stream or river transports sediment, the water’s energy carries particles of various sizes. As the flow slows, the water can no longer support the weight of the particles, so they settle to the bottom or along the riverbanks. This deposition by flowing water is called fluvial or river deposition. It shapes features like river channels, floodplains, and point bars as layers settle out over time.

Glacial deposition happens when ice carries and then drops sediment as it melts, not when water flow slows. Aeolian deposition is wind-blown sediment accumulating in dunes or loess. Chemical precipitation is minerals forming from dissolved stuff in solution, not sediment carried by water.