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Outcrop Patterns of Different Fold Structures Aviral 5511

Different types of folds have characteristic outcrop patterns that provide information about the fold structure. Antiforms can be identified when the fold axis plunges toward the convex side of the fold, while synforms plunge toward the concave side. Upright folds have vertical axial planes, inclined folds have dipping axial planes, and recumbent folds have horizontal or near-horizontal axial planes. Plunging folds have horizontal hinges, while non-plunging folds have inclined hinges. Folds can also be classified as left-handed, right-handed, or neutral based on the direction of rotation needed to stay in the same bed along the outcrop. Cylindrical folds have horizontal hinge lines, while non-

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425 views3 pages

Outcrop Patterns of Different Fold Structures Aviral 5511

Different types of folds have characteristic outcrop patterns that provide information about the fold structure. Antiforms can be identified when the fold axis plunges toward the convex side of the fold, while synforms plunge toward the concave side. Upright folds have vertical axial planes, inclined folds have dipping axial planes, and recumbent folds have horizontal or near-horizontal axial planes. Plunging folds have horizontal hinges, while non-plunging folds have inclined hinges. Folds can also be classified as left-handed, right-handed, or neutral based on the direction of rotation needed to stay in the same bed along the outcrop. Cylindrical folds have horizontal hinge lines, while non-

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Aviral Srivastava
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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OUTCROP PATTERNS OF DIFFERENT

FOLD STRUCTURES

Folded beds have curved outcrop traces whose actual shape depends on the
shape of the fold, the plunge of the fold and the topography. If the dips of
bedding on the limbs of a fold can be deduced or measured, the type (synform or
antiform) and approximate plunge of the fold can be deduced.

Different folds have different outcrop patterns, observing which, we can get early
information about which type of fold it is.

For antiform or synform structure, it is relatively easy. We can recognize an


antiform when the fold axis plunges towards the convex side of a fold closure and
a synform can be recognized when the fold axis plunges towards the concave
side.

If the axial plane of the fold is vertical then it is an upright fold, this can be easily
observed in the field. If the axial plane appears to be dipping, then it is an inclined
fold. Also if the axial plane is observed to be horizontal or nearly horizontal then
it’s a recumbent fold.
If the hinge of the fold is horizontal, meaning that it is on the same level
throughout, it will be a plunging fold. And if the hinge line is inclined in vertical
sense, it will be called a non-plunging fold.

a=plunging, b=non-plunging

The patterns may be left-handed, right-handed or neutral. The pattern is left-


handed if one turns to the left to stay in the same bed, and the pattern is right-
handed if one turns to the right to stay in the same bed. If one turns neither to
the left nor to the right, it is neutral.

If the hinge line of a fold is horizontal, the fold is cylindrical in nature. That is, if
the highest part of the fold continues in a straight like. Now, if the hinge line is
curved, it will be a non-cylindrical fold.
a=cylindrical fold, b=non-cylindrical fold

A fold is symmetric if the dip and strike around the fold show some trend. Also if
the dip and strike are varying around the fold, the fold will be asymmetrical.

The outcrop pattern of a fold changes with a change in the orientation of the axis
in different parts of a fold. The fold may show an arcuation (The act of bending or
curving) of the fold axis, i.e. a change in the trend of the fold axis. The outcrop
pattern then shows a curved trace of the axial surface. It should be noted,
however, that a similar outcrop pattern may also be produced by non-plane
cylindrical folds, i.e. in folds with a curved axial surface but with a more or less
constant orientation of the fold axis.

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