Sculpted lateral bar

Position: In-channel

 

Form

Bank-attached feature that resembles a depositional lateral bar. Forms along the low-sinuosity reaches of fine-grained channels. Bar surface is inclined towards the channel but at low angles. Localised form that is not as continuous as a ledge.

 

Process description

Flow along a straight reach of river adopts a sinuous path. In fine-grained systems, these features are sculpted from the surrounding sediment of the adjacent channel bank. Sediment may subsequently be draped over the toe of the bank during waning stage flows and be smoothed by flows that inundate it.