{{Earthquakes Seismites are

sedimentary Sedimentary rocks are types of rock formed by the cementation of sediments—i.e. particles made of minerals (geological detritus) or organic matter (biological detritus)—that have been accumulated or deposited at Earth's surface. Sedime ...

beds and structures deformed by seismic shaking. The German paleontologist Adolf Seilacher first used the term in 1969 to describe earthquake-deformed layers. Today, the term is applied to both sedimentary ''layers'' and soft sediment deformation ''structures'' formed by shaking. This subtle change in usage accommodates structures that may not remain within a layer (i.e., clastic dikes or

sand volcano Sand boils, sand volcanoes, or sand blows occur when water under pressure wells up through a bed of sand. The water looks like it is boiling up from the bed of sand, hence the name. Sand volcano A sand volcano or sand blow is a cone of sand ...

s). Caution is urged when applying the term to features observed in the field, as similar-looking features may be products of either seismic or non-seismic perturbation. Several informal classification systems exist to help geologists distinguish seismites from other soft-sediment deformation features, though a formal, standardized system has not been developed. Geologists use seismites, in combination with other evidence, to better understand the earthquake history of an area. If age and distribution of seismically-generated features can be determined, then recurrence interval and seismic hazard risk can be assessed.Merriam, D.F., Neuhauser, K.R., 2009, Seismite Indicates Pleistocene Earthquake Activity in Ellis County, Kansas, Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, 112, p. 109–112, doi = 10.1660/062.112.0214

References

Seismology Earthquakes Sedimentology

See also

References