Soft Sediment Deformation

On day two of our trip in Moab, as we were headed to The Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park we stopped along the road and took this picture. Can you see how the smooth looking upper layer called Slickrock is dipping down into the brick- looking Dewey Bridge layer? What you are seeing is what geologists call soft sediment deformation. Soft sediment deformation is the process of the lower layers of sediments being deposited wet and the weight of the overlying layer of sediments deforming the lower layer of sediments. Isn't that neat? Now you won't look at the picture the same again!