Palaeocurrent Analysis

The measurement of palaeocurrents is a vital part of the study of sedimentary rocks in that they provide
information on palaeogeography, palaeoslopes, current and wind directions and they are useful in facies
interpretation. Of the sedimentary structures commonly seen in the field, cross-stratification and sole
marks have proven to be the most reliable. With planar cross-bedding, the palaeocurrent direction is
simply the direction of maximum angle of dip. For trough cross-bedding, the palaeocurrent direction is
parallel to the trough axis. Palaeocurrent directions can also be easily determined from groove and flute
casts (see figures above).
Palaeocurrent measurements are grouped into classes of 10º, 15º, 20º or 30º intervals (depending on the
number of readings and their variability) and then plotted on a rose diagram. Azimuths are
conventionally plotted in the direction to which the current flowed. There are four types of
palaeocurrent patterns, unimodal, bimodal and polymodal, depicted below:

As tectonism may have changed the shape and/or orientation of the sedimentary structure(s), it may be
necessary to correct your measurements before plotting. The most common correction is for the effects
of tilting of the strata of which the sedimentary structures are a part. The following table summarizes
the environmental significance of palaeocurrent patterns:

ENVIRONMENT LOCAL CURRENT VECTOR REGIONAL PATTERN

Alluvial - Braided Unimodal, low variability
- Meandering Unimodal, high variability
Eolian Uni-, bi- or polymodal
Deltaic Unimodal
Shorelines and shelves Bimodal (due to tidal currents),
sometimes unipolar or polymodal
Marine turbidite Unimodal (some exceptions)
Often fan shaped
Slope controlled; often centripetal basin fill
May swing round over hundreds of miles
around high-pressure systems
Regionally radiating
Generally consistently oriented offshore,
offshore or longshore
Fan shaped or, on a larger scale, trending
into or along trough axes

Please refer to pages 48-51 in Prothero and Schwab for further details on palaeocurrent analysis.
Data set #1 – groove cast trends:
4º, 12º, 18º, 28º, 31º, 35º, 45º, 47º, 58º, 61º, 80º, 98º, 117º, 125º, 335º.

Class (º) # of Observations Percent (%)

0 – 29º 4/15 26.667%
30 – 59º 5/15 33.333%
60 – 89º 3/15 20%
90 – 119º 2/15 13.333%
120 – 149º 1/15 6.667%
150 – 179º
180 – 209º
210 – 239º
240 – 269º
270 – 299º
300 – 329º
330 – 359º 1/15 6.667%

Paleocurrent pattern: Local Depositional Environment: Deltaico

Data set #2 – maximum dip direction of herringbone cross-bedding:
34º, 42º, 61º, 66º, 72º, 79º, 84º, 99º, 145º, 212º, 239º, 253º, 257º, 261º, 269º.

Class (º) # of Observations Percent (%)

0 – 29º
30 – 59º 2/15 6.667%
60 – 89º 6/15 40%
90 – 119º 1/15 6.667%
120 – 149º 1/15 6.667%
150 – 179º
180 – 209º
210 – 239º 2/15 6.667%
240 – 269º 4/15 26.667%
270 – 299º
300 – 329º
330 – 359º

Paleocurrent pattern: Local Depositional Environment: Deltaico

Data set #3 – maximum dip direction of truncated cross-bedding:
12º, 23º, 29º, 56º, 68º, 90º, 102º, 119º, 134º, 156º, 178º, 198º, 245º, 336º, 340º.

Class (º) # of Observations Percent (%)

0 – 29º 3/15 20%
30 – 59º 1/15 6.667%
60 – 89º 1/15 6.667%
90 – 119º 3/15 20%
120 – 149º 1/15 6.667%
150 – 179º 2/15 6.667%
180 – 209º 1/15 6.667%
210 – 239º
240 – 269º 1/15 6.667%
270 – 299º
300 – 329º
330 – 359º 2/15 6.667%

Paleocurrent pattern: Local Depositional Environment: Deltaico

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