<p>Braided channels are usually found in estuaries. Estuaries are usually on the coast. That being the case, it seems possible that now and again a high tide brought in some sand which covered the silt-filled channels, which then brought more silt, thus creating the layered structure you describe. If the site is now a long way from the coast, it doesn't follow that it always was.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-06T13:11:33.683Z
Braided channels are not restricted to coastal environments. They are also common in mountain/glacial settings, although in those cases you should find coarse grains, i.e. gravels, not only silt/sand.
Jean-Marie Prival
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-16T01:38:55.167Z
The channels of many North American Prairie rivers (e.g. the Platte) were naturally braided until engineers got to them.
Spencer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-05T11:51:00.707Z
2019-11-05T11:51:00.707Z
Michael Walsby
<p>I am attempting to interpret an outcrop I went to. I suggested it was created by a braided stream. The one thing I cannot explain are prominent alternating siltstone and sandstone beds.  There are smaller lenses of silstone that I suggest are abandoned channel fills, but I have other siltstone beds about 0.2 - 0.5 m thick that seem pretty continuous (laterally continuous up to ~ 10-15 m as far as I can see).<br />
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Ha4Hy.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Ha4Hy.jpg" alt="outcrop" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T15:53:59.843Z
It would be great if you could provide a picture to help us get a good insight
marsisalie
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-06T16:00:36.767Z
without images this description is pretty merger and makes helping you difficult. A picture is worth a thousand words and you don't have many words ot begin with.
John
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-27T05:31:09.953Z
@EtienneGodin  Here is a photo!
PattyWatty27
<geology><sedimentology>
Can a braided stream create thick relatively continuous siltstone beds?
PattyWatty27
# Can a braided stream create thick relatively continuous siltstone beds?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-05)

I am attempting to interpret an outcrop I went to. I suggested it was created by a braided stream. The one thing I cannot explain are prominent alternating siltstone and sandstone beds. There are smaller lenses of silstone that I suggest are abandoned channel fills, but I have other siltstone beds about 0.2 - 0.5 m thick that seem pretty continuous (laterally continuous up to ~ 10-15 m as far as I can see).  
[![outcrop](https://i.sstatic.net/Ha4Hy.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Ha4Hy.jpg)

**Tags:** geology, sedimentology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It would be great if you could provide a picture to help us get a good insight  
> **username_2**: without images this description is pretty merger and makes helping you difficult. A picture is worth a thousand words and you don't have many words ot begin with.  
> **username_0**: @EtienneGodin  Here is a photo!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-11-05. Score: -1

Braided channels are usually found in estuaries. Estuaries are usually on the coast. That being the case, it seems possible that now and again a high tide brought in some sand which covered the silt-filled channels, which then brought more silt, thus creating the layered structure you describe. If the site is now a long way from the coast, it doesn't follow that it always was.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Braided channels are not restricted to coastal environments. They are also common in mountain/glacial settings, although in those cases you should find coarse grains, i.e. gravels, not only silt/sand.  
> **username_5**: The channels of many North American Prairie rivers (e.g. the Platte) were naturally braided until engineers got to them.  

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