March 26, 1917 
Canada 
Geological Survey 
Museum Bulletin No. 25 
GEOLOGICAL SERIES, No. 34. 
Recent and Fossil Ripple-Mark. 
By E. M. Kindle. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The general mechanical principles underlying the phenomena 
of ripple-mark formation have been made the subject of experi- 
mental laboratory investigations by various geologists , 1 who have 
developed the physical theory of this subject to a fairly satis- 
factory stage. The present study makes no attempt to enter 
this field but confines itself to the description and illustration 
of the phases of ripple-mark phenomena met with on sandy 
sediments and their correlation with the geologic agencies which 
produce them . 2 
The study of ripple-mark formation under present conditions 
was undertaken for the purpose of securing more precise con- 
ceptions of the significance of the different types of fossil ripple- 
mark. A definite and distinctive type of ripple-mark, always 
results from current action on sandy bottom, a different type 
JHunt, A. R., "On the formation of ripple-mark,” Proc. Roy. Soc., London, vol. XXXIV, 
iSS2. pp. 2-18. 
de Candolle, C., "Ridea fortunes & la surface du sable dlpos6 au fond de l’eau et autres 
phenomenes analogues,” Archives des sciences physiques et naturelles, Geneva, 3e sir., IX, 
1883, pp. 241-278. 
Ford, F. A., “Lea rides de fond etudiC-ea dans le lac L6man,” Archives dea sciences physiques 
et naturelles, 3e s6r. X, 1883, pp. 39-72. 
Darwin, G. H., ‘‘On the formation of ripple-mark in sand,” Proc. Roy. Soc., London, 
vol. XXXVI, 1883, pp. 18-43. 
Cornish, Vaughan, ‘‘On the formation of sand-dunes,” Geog. Jour., vol. IX, 1897, pp. 
278-309, figs. 1-25. 
H. Ayrton, “The origin and growth of ripple-mark,” Proc. Roy. Soc., set. A, vol. 84, 
1910, pp. 285-310, figs. 1-15, plates 3-4. 
* An excellent summary accompanied by bibliographic references to much of the literature 
on ripple-mark, by Prof. D. W. Johnson, appeared after this paper was completed; to which the 
reader is referred — “Contributions to the study of ripple-marks,” Jour. Geol., vol. 24, 1916, 
pp. 809-819. 
