Mudcracks, also referred to as desiccation cracks, are sedimentary structures that form from the drying and contracting of mud as its environment interchanges between wet and dry seasons. Long dry seasons cause fine clay materials to lose their moisture forming cracks that run perpendicular to horizontal bedding, tapering downwards, while wet seasons allow for sediment transport to infill the cracks before the mud is remoisturized and swells, as shown in samples B and C with the red markers indicating the infilled mudcrack in contrast to the blue horizontal strata of mud. From a birds-eye view, this infill typically results in a 3-dimensional texture of a slight upward folding as the sediment dries and a distinguishable polygonal shape, as seen in samples A and D. Due to its characteristic cross-sectional downward tapering and a distinct polygonal top view, the preservation of mudcracks can be especially useful as paleoindicator of upright orientation.