鲁北平原黄河古河道可分为地面古河道(埋藏深度0—8m)和浅埋古河道(埋藏深度8—40m)。两类古河道部大致可分为三条古河道带,呈SW-NE向近平行展布,每带一般宽5—15km,最宽处可达20km。古河道沉积层主要由细砂或粉砂组成,为古河床之曲流砂堤或天然堤沉积。各期古河道沉积层之顶、底板主要为粘土或亚粘土和淤泥层所构成,为古黄河泛滥相沉积物。本区古河道按形成时间顺序可分为三期,下部第一期古河道大约形成于晚更新世晚期—全新世早期,中部第二期古河道形成于全新世早—中期,上部第三期古河道形成于全新世中—晚期。

According to buried deths, the yellow River's pahochannels can be divided into around pareocnanneis (buried depth 0-8 m) and shallow-buried palecechannels (burred depth 8-50 m). They may all be routhly divided into three major paleochannel belts, stretching par-allel with each other from SW to NE in direction.