currentsand

Currentsand is a descriptive term in sedimentology referring to sand that is actively transported and deposited by sustained water or air currents. It typically refers to fine- to medium-grained sand, often dominated by quartz, though mineralogy can vary with the source. The concept covers sands moved by fluvial, tidal, coastal, and aeolian (wind) currents.

Transport and deposition occur when shear stress exerted by the flowing medium exceeds a critical threshold. Finer grains may remain in suspension while coarser grains travel as bedload. As current velocity wanes, transported sand is deposited, leading to well-sorted sands and characteristic sedimentary structures associated with flowing media.

Common sedimentary features of currentsand include ripple marks, dune cross-bedding, and planar laminations that reflect the direction and variability of the flow. These structures enable interpretation of paleoflow directions and energy conditions at the time of deposition. The degree of sorting, grain rounding, and the presence of grading or laminations provide clues about changes in current strength and sediment supply.

Environmentally, currentsand occurs in rivers, tidal channels, shorefaces, coastal dunes, and some aeolian dunes where wind acts as a sustained current. The porosity and permeability of currentsand beds depend on sorting and maturity, influencing their reservoir quality in sedimentary basins.

Terminology note: Currentsand is not a universally standardized lithostratigraphic term. In many contexts, it is described in terms of depositional processes (current-driven sands) or by specific environments (fluvial, estuarine, aeolian) rather than as a formal lithologic name. See also sediment transport and sedimentary structures.