Teepee structure

Their name originates from geologists working in the Guadalupe Mountains, who noted their appearance in cross-section resembles that of a Native American teepee.

[1] Teepee structures have been observed in rocks more than 2.7 billion years old,[2] and can be seen forming in modern environments on Earth, such as the Dead Sea.

[3] Several mechanisms are involved in the formation of teepee structures, with displacive forces resulting from mineral precipitation likely the most important.

If supersaturated pore waters are maintained during mineral precipitation, the forces can be sufficient to deform sedimentary beds.

[6] In arid environments where anhydrite is widespread, a storm or spring tide could case rapid hydration and swelling, resulting in increased stresses and buckling within the sediment to form teepees.

A modern teepee structure on the shore of the Dead Sea.
A cross-section view of an approximately 2 billion year old teepee structure in the Belcher Islands , Nunavut , Canada.