Origin of Riverbed Sediments along the International Karakorum Highway, Pakistan

Abstract

A total of 45 riverbed sediment samples collected from the Khunjerab River, the Huza River, the Gilgit River and the India River along the International Karakoram Highway were compared and analyzed. The sample’s mean, median, sorting coefficient, skewness and kurtosis, etc. were analyzed, and the relationship between the particle size distribution of sediments collected along the highway and debris flow sediments collected in the neighboring gullies was discussed. The results showed that river sediments were mainly derived from debris flow sediments, and the sediments had the similar distribution characteristics with debris flow composition.