What is the process of deposition?

Deposition is a critical geological process that involves the laying down of sediment that has been transported through erosion. This process occurs when the energy of the transporting medium—like water, wind, or ice—decreases, allowing particles to settle out of the transport and accumulate in a new location.

While it may seem that deposition relates to weathering and erosion, the correct choice emphasizes that deposition itself is distinct from those processes. Erosion involves the removal and transportation of sediments, and weathering is the breakdown of rocks into smaller particles. However, deposition does not involve these actions directly; instead, it describes the outcome of sediment that has already been transported, now settling in a new area, such as river deltas, beaches, or lakebeds.

The other options reference related concepts but do not accurately define deposition, particularly in the context of sedimentary processes. Thus, understanding deposition as a separate and distinct process from erosion and weathering is essential in geology.