GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES

• “Architecture of bedrock”
• Structural Geology-
– shapes,
– arrangement,
– interrelationships of bedrock
– units & forces that cause them
Structures as a Record of the
Geologic Past
• Geologic maps and field methods
– Observations of outcrops
– Geologic map
– Strike and dip
• Original horizontality
• Strike
• Angle of dip
• Direction of dip
• Symbols
– Geologic cross section
 FOLDS
• The bending or crumbling of rock-strata due to compressional forces
acting tangentially or horizontally towards a common point or plane or
rather shortening from opposite directions is known as folding.
• Important parts and terminologies associated
with folds
• Limb
• Axis
• Axial Plane
• Hinge point and Hinge line
• Inter limb angle
• Median surface
• Wave length/Amplitude
• Crestal plane and trough plane
 Geometric classification
• Based on sense of curvature
• Antiform - fold that closes upward
• Synform - fold that closes downward
• Neutral fold - fold that closes sidewise
• Dome - Antiformal structure with no distinct trend of hinge line
• Basin - synformal structure with no distinct trend of hinge line

• Based on the plunge of the fold axis

• Horizontal fold - Horizontal fold axis
• Plunging fold - Inclined fold axis
• Vertical fold - vertical fold axis

• Based on orientation of axial plane

• Upright fold - vertical axial plane
• Recumbent fold - axial plane dipping at an angle of 10° or less
• Inclined fold – inclined axial plane
• Reclined fold - axis plunges directly down the dip of the axial plane
• Overturned fold - inclined axial plane, both the limbs dip in the same direction at
different angles
Terms which describe folds irrespective of absolute
orientations of structural elements
• Based on direction of younging relative to sense of fold
closure.
• Anticline - Younging away from the core

• Syncline - Younging towards the fold core

• Anticlinorium - Large anticline with many smaller folds on

its back.

• Synclinorium - Large syncline with many smaller folds on

its back
• Synformal anticline – Fold closes downward but direction
of younging away from core

• Antiformal syncline - Fold closes upward but direction of

younging towards the core
 Based on inter limb angle

• Gentle fold - interlimb angle is between 180° and 120°

• Open fold - interlimb angle is between 120° and 70°

• Close fold - interlimb angle is between 70° and 30°

• Tight fold - interlimb angle is between 30° and greater

than 0°

• Isoclinal fold –sub parallel limbs

• Based on the symmetry of folds
 Symmetric fold –axial plane is the plane of symmetry

 Asymmetric fold –axial plane is not the plane of symmetry

• Based on the shape of the hinge
 Round-hinged fold –broad hinge zone compared to limb

 Chevron fold – straight limbs and sharp hinge


 Arrow-head fold – sharp hinge and distinctly curved limbs

 Cuspate fold – A train of folds with sharp hinges on one set

of closure and with rounded hinges on the opposite
directed closure
 FOLDS
• Anticline vs. syncline
– Hinge line (axis)
– Limb
– Axial plane
• Plunging fold
• Structural dome
• Structural basin
 INTERPRETING FOLDS
• Interpreting folds
– Open fold
– Isoclinal fold
– Overturned fold
– Recumbent fold
 Fractures in rock
• Joints
– Columnar jointing
– Sheet jointing
– Joint set
• Faults
– Dip-slip faults- normal and reverse
• Footwall vs. hanging wall
– Normal fault
• Graben; Rift
• Horst ; fault-block mountain range
 Fractures in rock
• Faults
– Reverse fault
• Thrust fault- low angle reverse fault
– Strike-Slip fault
• Left-lateral vs. right-lateral