In situ data show that fluid mud of the Changjiang Estuary consists of fine sediment ranging from 8 to 11.5 μm (median grain-size) including 28.8%-36.4% of clay. The composition of the clay is illite, chlorite, kaolinite and montmoillonite. The FM is a layer of high sediment concentration near the bed and results from flocculation under the environment of salt and fresh water mixing. Three kinds of FM have been identified under typical dynamic conditions: the first one is formed at slack water of ebb tide during the flood season, with the characteristics of extended area and low thickness; the second one is formed following a storm, characterized by large area and larger thickness; the third one is formed around the front of the saltwater wedge, characterized by small area but large thickness. In the dredged channel, the FM can be accumulated up to 1 m thick. In general, FM will change with the alternation from spring to neap tides, flood and dry seasons. Drastic change can happen during storms. At the same time, the change of FM is closely related to the erosion and growth of the mouth bar.
The sequence boundary and maximum flooding surface of the postglacial transgressive cycle in the Changjiang Delta have been identified by 265 cores. Based on these data, the sediment amounts and the thickness-isopach maps of postglacial sedimentary cycle, transgressive and regressive successions in the Changjiang Delta have been worked out. The results show that the sediment amounts of the postglacial cycle, transgressive succession and regressive succession are 17742.2×108 tons, 9791.9×108 tons and 7950.3×108 tons, respectively. The postglacial sediments deposited in the incised valley are more than those in the two flanks, and the sediments contained in the transgressive succession are more than those in the regressive succession. The postglacial sediments deposited in the southern flank are more than those in the northern flank, and the sediments in the area seaward from the postglacial transgression maximum (PTM) of each flank are more than those in the area landward from the PTM. Considering both the possible changes of the ratio between the sediment amount remained in the modern Changjiang Delta and the sediment discharge of the Changjiang River in the postglacial period, and the changes of the sediment discharge, the authors believe that in the postglacial period, the sediment discharge of the Changjiang River is (2.36—4.86)×108 tons/a on average, totaling to (35400—70800)×108 tons, and the sediments delivered to sea and adjacent coasts are (1.18—3.54)×108 tons/a on average, totaling to (17700—53100)×108 tons.
