# Paleocurrent

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Geological indicator of water flow

Bidirectional wave ripple, [Nomgon](/source/Nomgon), [Mongolia](/source/Mongolia)

A **paleocurrent** or **paleocurrent indicator** is a [geological](/source/Geological) feature (typically a [sedimentary structure](/source/Sedimentary_structure)) that helps one determine the direction of flowing [water](/source/Water) in the geologic past. This is an invaluable tool in the reconstruction of ancient [depositional environments](/source/Depositional_environment).[1]

There are two main types of paleocurrent indicators:

- *Unidirectional*, which give a clear, single direction of flow

- *Bidirectional*, which give a good linear direction, but it is unclear which direction along the linear trend the water flowed.

Paleocurrents are usually measured with an [azimuth](/source/Azimuth), or as a [rake](/source/Rake_(geology)) on a bedding plane, and displayed with a [Rose Diagram](/source/Pie_chart#Polar_area_diagram) to show the dominant direction(s) of flow. This is needed because in some depositional environments, like [meandering rivers](/source/Meandering_river), the paleocurrent resulting from natural sinuosity has a natural variation of 180 degrees or more.[2]

Below are a partial list of common paleocurrent indicators:

## Unidirectional

Flute cast, showing paleocurrent to the upper right of pic

- [Cross-bedding](/source/Cross-bedding) – the axis of a trough cross bed or the down-dip direction of a tabular cross bed point the direction of paleo flow.

- Current [ripple marks](/source/Ripple_mark) – will have the short side of the ripple pointing down stream.

- [Sole markings](/source/Sole_markings)/[flute casts](/source/Flute_cast) – the short, steep side will point up stream, and the long, tapered side points down stream.

- [Imbrication](/source/Imbrication_(sedimentology)) – clasts line up in the direction of flow.

## Bidirectional

Parting lineation, from lower right to upper left; [Kayenta Formation](/source/Kayenta_Formation), [Canyonlands National Park](/source/Canyonlands_National_Park).

- Symmetrical [ripple marks](/source/Ripple_mark) – flow is perpendicular to the ridge crest.

- [Tool mark](/source/Tool_mark) – flow is along the mark.

- [Parting lineations](/source/Parting_lineation) – flow is along the grains.

## References

The Wikibook *[Historical Geology](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Historical_Geology)* has a page on the topic of: ***[Paleocurrents](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Historical_Geology/Paleocurrents)***

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Prothero, D. R. and Schwab, F., 1996, *[Sedimentary Geology](/source/Sedimentary_Geology_(journal))*, pg. 48–51, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7167-2726-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7167-2726-9)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Miaoa, Xiaodong; Huayu Lua; Zhen Lid; Guangchao Caod (July 2008). "Paleocurrent and fabric analyses of the imbricated fluvial gravel deposits in Huangshui Valley, the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, China". *[Geomorphology](/source/Geomorphology_(journal))*. **99** (1–4). © 2007 Elsevier B.V.: 433–442. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2008Geomo..99..433M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008Geomo..99..433M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.12.005](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.geomorph.2007.12.005).

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