Vermiculations

Vermiculations are worm-like markings or textures that resemble the trails of worms on a surface. The word derives from Latin vermiculus, "little worm," and is used to describe irregular, meandering, interwoven lines or patches found in natural and human-made materials.

In geology and paleontology, vermiculations describe patterns in rocks or fossils formed by weathering, diagenesis, mineral growth, or trace-fossil activity. They appear as meandering, interlaced channels or patchworks and can reveal the history of formation, alteration, or the behavior of ancient organisms that bored or moved through the sediment.

In architecture, decorative arts, and archaeology, vermiculations can refer to surfaces intentionally or naturally produced to resemble worm tracks. Stone, plaster, pottery, or metal may exhibit vermiculated textures through tooling, patination, or weathering. Contemporary designers sometimes imitate vermiculations for aesthetic effect, while in archaeology the term helps describe preserved surface textures that aid interpretation.

Vermiculations should be distinguished from vermiculite, the mineral named for its flaky, worm-like appearance. The term is descriptive rather than a single process and can refer to several different origins across disciplines.