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Silt is the product of water erosion.

It is extremely fine particles of soil that have been eroded and worn down by water and then normally deposited at the head of the river.

This either happens as the water slows down as it flows finally towards the sea and the particles fall out of suspension, or silt can be deposited where the normally strong flow of a river is interrupted (such as with a dam). When the silt falls out of suspension it builds up in layers which over time can cause the flow of the river to be diverted (such as with a river Delta), or a dam to silt up.

Fine grained sedimentary rocks such as slate are formed from the compaction of silt particles over millions of years (with heat and weight).

A famous example of a river which produces enormous amounts of silt is the Nile River.

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Flavio Mitchell

Lvl 13
3y ago

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