Observations of modern charcoal and sediments at forest fire sites and offossil charcoal in the Dakota Formation suggest that the bedding of the charcoal can be an indicator of the speed of the deposition processes. Buoyancy forces will normally place charcoal and other buoyant materials at bedding planes. Thorough mixing of buoyant plant fragments into sediments indicates catastrophic processes. Lack of redistribution of bedding plane charcoal can indicate rapid burial by subsequent deposits.
