FAULT‐GRADED BEDS INTERPRETED AS SEISMITES

Abstract

SUMMARY Fault grading is expressed by a regular structural sequence of (from top) liquified zone, rubble zone and step‐faulted zone, with gradational contacts between these zones and the bottom, but with a sharp boundary at the top. It is interpreted as an effect of strong earthquakes on gradationally compacted muds in quiet water basins. Fault‐graded beds are geopetal and paleoslope criteria. If interpreted as seismites they may also be used as paleo‐seismograms.