Soft-sediment deformation structures

Soft-sediment deformation structures develop at deposition or shortly after, during the first stages of the sediment's consolidation.

This is because the sediments need to be "liquid-like" or unsolidified for the deformation to occur.

These formations have also been put into a category called water-escape structures by Lowe (1975).

The most common places for soft-sediment deformations to materialize are in deep water basins with turbidity currents, rivers, deltas, and shallow-marine areas with storm impacted conditions.

This is because these environments have high deposition rates, which allows the sediments to pack loosely.

Cross-sectional view of deformed beds caused by soft-sediment deformation in the Booti Booti Sandstone ( Mississippian ), New South Wales. (Rygel, M.C.)
Aztec Sandstone (Lower Jurassic ) in southern Nevada showing distorted eolian sand beds.
Large soft sediment deformation structures in turbidites , SE Spain. These are probably best described as flame structures , or perhaps ball-and-pillow structures . Backpack is around half a meter high. A small reverse fault runs through the outcrop in the centre of the image.