The physical make-up of a rock or sediment. Fabric analysis can determine the dip and orientation of particles in a sediment: see Carr and Goddard (2007) Boreas on fabric analysis and glacier dynamics; Cifelli et al. (2006) Eos Trans. AGU 87 on magnetic/mineral fabric analysis and regional deformation; and Brown and Bell (2007) Bull. Volcan. 69, 8 on fabric analysis and mass wasting. Millar (2005) Geomorph. 72, 1–4 seriously doubts the time/cost effectiveness of fabric analysis to identify periglacial landforms.