Coexistent mud braids and anastomosing channels in an arid-zone river: Cooper Creek, central Australia

Research Article| February 01, 1986 Coexistent mud braids and anastomosing channels in an arid-zone river: Cooper Creek, central Australia Gerald C. Nanson; Gerald C. Nanson 1Department of Geography, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Brian R. Rust; Brian R. Rust 2Department of Geology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Graham Taylor Graham Taylor 3Geology, School of Applied Science, Canberra College of Advanced Education, Belconnen, ACT 2616, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Gerald C. Nanson 1Department of Geography, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia Brian R. Rust 2Department of Geology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada Graham Taylor 3Geology, School of Applied Science, Canberra College of Advanced Education, Belconnen, ACT 2616, Australia Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1986) 14 (2): 175–178. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<175:CMBAAC>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Gerald C. Nanson, Brian R. Rust, Graham Taylor; Coexistent mud braids and anastomosing channels in an arid-zone river: Cooper Creek, central Australia. Geology 1986;; 14 (2): 175–178. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<175:CMBAAC>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract With few exceptions, braided rivers transport sand- and gravel-sized bedload over relatively steep gradients. However, Cooper Creek, a major river of the Lake Eyre Basin, central Australia, transports clay-rich mud through a low-gradient network of braided channels. We attribute this unusual behavior to transport of mud as sand-sized pedogenic aggregates and to aggregate densities that are lower than those of single-mineral grains. A third factor may be appreciable bed shear associated with the steep energy gradient at the front of each flood wave. Although the braids were previously regarded as relict, we interpret those in the Cooper as contemporaneous with deeper, narrower anastomosing channels, both in equilibrium with present hydrologic conditions. The mud braids are active during flood, whereas the anastomosing channels operate at moderate flows and transport both sand and mud. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.