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Geomorphology and sedimentology of the recent depositional environments of Hueque and Curarí rivers estuarine complex, Falcón State, Venezuela

Abstract:

This paper presents the results of the geomorphological and sedimentological characterization of estuarine complex of the Hueque and Curarí rivers mouth, located on northeastern coast of Falcón State (Venezuela). The research to carried out in three phases. In the field phase sediment samples were collected, and morphometrical features of the depositional environments were measured too. In the laboratory phase sedimentological analyses were made: texture, carbonates, organic matter, heavy minerals and mineralogy through out X - ray diffraction. The office phase was based on: spatial analyses and interpretation of the depositional environments with aerial photos and topographic maps on a 1:25 000 scale, design of cross sections and maps of area, and the drawing up of sedimentological model. The Hueque and Curarí rivers mouth, is located in a shoreline area of semi-arid climate, with a drainage density low basin, and littoral dynamic of microtidal ranges (mixed tides), energy high waves and effective longshore currents. Two sedimentological groups were identified: barrier island complex (inshore, foreshore, backshore, beach dunes, backbarrier and bar) of sandy lithofacies; and swamp complex (Hueque and Curarí rivers bed, tidal channel and tidal creek) of silty clay lithofacies. The fluvial channels behave as hypersaline estuaries.