Overpassing and armouring phenomena on gravel beaches

Armouring phenomena are common in river beds, gravel beaches and spits. The gravel segregation recognized at depth in three different beaches of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, allows us to propose a mechanism for formation.

A mixed population of gravel set into motion by waves is deposited progressively. Granules and fine gravels with higher pivoting angles in the beach slope are easily trapped within the bed, while rounded pebbles continue rolling over (overpassing) it. Finally, decreasing flow velocity allows the deposition of the larger pebbles, thus armouring the beach.

A carpet of round clasts of uniform size is more stable than the same clasts in a mixed population armouring the bed and covering a uniform layer of rounded granules and fine gravels.