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Contemporary and palaeo channel patterns and the late quaternary stratigraphy of Cooper Creek, Southwest Queensland, Australia
Author(s) -
Rust Brian R.,
Nanson Gerald C.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290110602
Subject(s) - geology , fluvial , floodplain , alluvium , channel (broadcasting) , stratigraphy , quaternary , palaeochannel , streams , geomorphology , hydrology (agriculture) , paleontology , geography , tectonics , geotechnical engineering , structural basin , computer science , electrical engineering , computer network , cartography , engineering
Braided and anastomosing channels make up two major coexistent networks in the mud‐dominated fluvial system of Cooper Creek, Southwest Queensland. The floodplain is characterized by a system of mud braids operative when floods inundate the whole alluvial surface. Anastomosing channels are inset deeper into the floodplain, operate at modern flows, and transport a traction load of sand. Shallow stratigraphic data show that an underlying sand sheet is unrelated to surface channel patterns and was formed by a system of meandering streams. According to preliminary dates based on thermoluminescence, the change from a sand‐ to mud‐dominated fluvial regime took place between 50 000 and 200 000 years B.P., and probably reflects increasing aridity.