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Graded bedding identification and geology

A sedimentary structure in which grain size decreases systematically from the bottom to the top of a single bed, with the coarsest particles at the base and the finest at the top. Normal graded bedding forms when a sediment-laden current slows and deposits its load in order of decreasing settling velocity. It is characteristic of turbidity currents in deep-marine environments and is a key criterion for identifying turbidite sequences. Field: sedimentology. Example: Individual turbidite beds in the Flysch deposits of the Alps display classic graded bedding from coarse sand at the base to fine silt and clay at the top, representing single turbidity current events.. Related terms: Turbidite, Bouma sequence, Density current, Sorting.

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:41.999576+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Graded bedding mean in geology?
A sedimentary structure in which grain size decreases systematically from the bottom to the top of a single bed, with the coarsest particles at the base and the finest at the top. Normal graded bedding forms when a sediment-laden current slows and deposits its load in order of decreasing settling velocity. It is characteristic of turbidity currents in deep-marine environments and is a key criterion for identifying turbidite sequences.
What is an example of Graded bedding?
Individual turbidite beds in the Flysch deposits of the Alps display classic graded bedding from coarse sand at the base to fine silt and clay at the top, representing single turbidity current events.
Which earth-science field uses the term Graded bedding?
Graded bedding is used in sedimentology.
Which terms are related to Graded bedding?
Related terms in this reference are Turbidite, Bouma sequence, Density current, Sorting.

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