Various features of sedimentary rocks may be mistaken for evidence of behavioral activity by organisms. Physical processes producing spurious traces include current action, movement of fluids through sediment, lightning, displacement of ambient mineral grains, deformation of unlithified strata, and shrinkage of sediment. Chemical processes yielding potentially deceptive products in this context include differential precipitation or dissolution, silicification, dolomitization, and crystallization. False traces of organic origin include some molds of organisms and certain primary shell features.

The chronologic significance of bioerosion traces may be misinterpreted in cases where origin of substrate and time of penetration differ markedly in age.