Which factor primarily influences the degree of sorting in sediments?

The degree of sorting in sediments is primarily influenced by the energy level of the transport environment. Sorting refers to the distribution of grain sizes within a sedimentary deposit, and this distribution can greatly affect the characteristics of the sediment.

When sediments are transported by wind, water, or ice, higher energy environments tend to sort sediments more effectively. In conditions of greater energy, larger and heavier particles are capable of being moved over longer distances, while smaller and lighter particles can be carried away more easily. Therefore, well-sorted sediments, which consist of grains that are similar in size, typically occur in high-energy settings such as rivers or beaches where strong currents can separate particles based on their size.

Conversely, in low-energy environments like calm lakes or deep-sea deposits, the transport mechanisms cannot effectively sort particles by size, leading to a mix of various grain sizes. This highlights the crucial role of the energy level in determining how well-sorted the sediments will be.