Thixotropy phenomenon in soils is usually defined as the gain of shear strength with time developed by some fine grained soils after remolding. This work reports the fundamental results of a study related to the tixotropic phenomenon developed in sodium bentonite slurries saturated with sodium chloride solutions at different electrolyte concentrations. Changes in fabric and structure of the soil during the thixotropic process were monitored indirectly by measuring wave velocity, matric suction, sedimentation velocity, plasticity index and shear strength. The results allow evaluate fabric changes during the process which reveals the influence of unbalanced electrical forces at double layer levels. Increase in salt concentration makes double layer shrinks and particles tend to accommodate closer in a more parallel structure. The effect of salt concentration, and so that soil structure, becomes relevant in the shear strength value of the pastes but it has negligible effect on stiffness.