A Miocene deltaic sequence, 75 ft thick, is exposed continuously for 4 mi in the Cane River Diversion Channel 25 mi northwest of Alexandria, Louisiana. This outcrop permits a detailed study of the abrupt lateral and vertical variations of lithologic character, sedimentary structures, bed geometry, and diagenetic alterations in a prograding deltaic sequence. From this study, the sedimentary features of channels, point bars, levees, swamps, and distributary mouth bars have been characterized and compared with those of modern deltaic environments. Deltaic paleoenvironments commonly are found in the subsurface, e.g., the oil producing Wilcox of central Mississippi and Louisiana. This study provides a model to aid in understanding the seemingly random occurrences of lithologie and their related correlation problems of the subsurface.

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