Channel patterns are types of sedimentary deposits formed by streams and rivers. Collectively, they are called fluvial deposits. Their shape and sediment characteristics are easily identified and enormously complex. Understanding of fluvial deposits is essential to economic geology because many of these ancient deposits are a good source of petroleum. Extremely old fluvial deposits are found extensively on land and often indicate much different environments. For example, a large river deposit is located outside of Flagstaff, Arizona where there now exists nothing but high desert. There is no indication of the source of vast channel cuts, sand bars, point bars, and cut banks seen captured in the sediments.

In order to understand and identify channel deposits, the types and natures of streams and rivers must first be learned. Each river has its own unique settings in which it flowed. No

Channel pattern of the Niger River...