Tempestite

Tempesites most often form in wave-dominated delta systems and preserve, within the sedimentary record, evidence of events and processes below fair weather wave base and above storm weather wave base.

[1] They are commonly characterized by hummocky cross-stratified beds that have an erosive base, and can form under combined flow regimes.

Each one of these sedimentary structures can be affected by bioturbation, when organisms living in the sediment at the time burrow through it.

Once it is understood where the deposit in question was deposited relative to the paleo-shoreline, which can usually be done using the ichnological data preserved in the same location, the hummock amplitudes/wavelengths, grainsize (decreases with increase in paleo water depth), and bedding thickness (decreases with increase in paleo water depth) can be used to estimate the storm intensity/energy.

[4] Tempestite deposits are also highly sought after petroleum reservoirs, as they are large laterally continuous sheet like deposits that have the potential to hold high volumes of petroleum with good permeability and porosity.