Sedimentary Structures
Explore geology through the lens of sedimentology. This resource offers detailed examples of sedimentary structures to support accurate identification and further interpretation, enhancing your skills in the field and beyond.
Discover Sedimentary Structures
Sedimentary structures are the physical records of past environments, processes, and forces.
Whether formed during deposition, shaped by ice and water, or deformed by mass movement, these features preserve the dynamic story of Earth’s surface.
This section explores sedimentary structures found in glacial and mass transport environments—categorized by their formation processes and environmental context. Click through to see real-world examples and learn how to interpret these fascinating textures and forms.
Primary Sedimentary Structures
Where it all begins.
Explore the foundational features formed as sediments settle from water, ice, or gravity; ripples, laminations, cross-beds, and more.
Deformation Structures
Twisted, folded, and faulted.
See how buried sediments respond to stress and discover the chaotic beauty of deformation in glacial settings.
Gravity Flow Deposits
When slopes fail, structures form.
Dive into the fascinating features of debris flows, turbidity currents, and slumps; evidence of powerful sediment transport.
Erosional Structures
Carved by ice and meltwater.
From striations to tool marks, see how erosional features trace the routes and forces of glacial flow.
Proglacial Structures
Beyond the ice lies the basin.
Discover the layered, rhythmic, and often delicate structures deposited in proglacial lakes, rivers, and seas.
Microstructures and Fabrics
Small scale, big story.
Explore the subtle fabrics and microstructures that reveal deformation histories, flow directions, and the inner workings of subglacial environments.