environ. |
mud sediment; sludge; silt The fine mineral material formed from the erosion of rock fragments and deposited by rivers and lakes. Its particles are the intermediate form between sand and clay. The particles can range in size from 0.01-0.05 mm in diameter; sludge 1. A soft, soupy, or muddy bottom deposit, such as found on tideland or in a stream bed. 2. A semifluid, slushy, murky mass of sediment resulting from treatment of water, sewage, or industrial and mining wastes, and often appearing as local bottom deposits in polluted bodies of water |