ripple mark

American  

noun

Geology.

1. one of the wavy lines or ridges produced, especially on sand, by the action of waves, wind, or the like.

2. one of such forms preserved in sandstone or siltstone.

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ripple mark British  

noun

1. one of a series of small wavy ridges of sand formed by waves on a beach, by a current in a sandy riverbed, or by wind on land: sometimes found fossilized on bedding planes of sedimentary rock

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Etymology

Origin of ripple mark

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

There was water flowing over it in currents strong enough to leave ripple marks.

From Scientific American

The retained pieces are of interest, for on their inner surfaces they are covered with a large number of small patches of very fine ripple marks.

From Nature

The footprints were found on what was once a river bank, bearing telltale ripple marks and desiccation cracks.

From Reuters

These worm borings, like the ripple marks, show that the sand was once loose.

From Project Gutenberg

The rocks show ripple marks which were made by waves when the rock material was soft sand and mud.

From Project Gutenberg