GY403 Structural Geology: Tectonite Fabrics

GY403 Structural
Geology
Tectonite Fabrics
Tectonite Fabric
 A tectonite is a rock that possess a penetrative
fabric consisting of cleavage, foliation and/or
lineation
 Tectonite fabrics are associated with directed
stress and metamorphism that occurs proximal
to subduction zones
Cleavage
 Cleavage in a rock is a tendency to part along
smooth planes when struck by a hammer
 Probably the best example of rock cleavage
would be slates used for roofing or floor tiles
 Typically cleavage forms during compressional
tectonic events that produce folding, therefore,
the cleavage is usually axial planar to at least one
generation of folding
Axial Planar Cleavage
 Can form at any scale
 Axial planar cleavage will typically “refract” from layer-to-layer if
mechanical differences exist
Geometric Rules
 If cleavage/foliation is axial
planar the upright limb of an
overturned fold will dip less
than the fabric whereas the
overturned limb will have a
steeper dip
Map Geometry of Cleavage &
Folding
 In general axial planar cleavage will be sub-
parallel to bedding in the limbs of the fold
 In the hinge zone however the cleavage will cut
across bedding
Domainal Structure
 Rocks possessing cleavage often display domains
of multiple “S” surfaces S2 cleavage
S1 foliation
Microlithon
Cleavage
domain
Types of Cleavage
 Disjunctive: cleavage fabric is interrupted at a
mesoscopic scale
 Continuous: cleavage penetrates the rock at a
mesoscopic scale
 Slaty Cleavage: associated with very fine grained rocks that
produce the best examples of cleavage parting (i.e. roofing
slates)
 Phyllitic structure: grains are large enough to reflect light at a
mesoscopic scale producing a “sheen”
 Schistosity: medium-grained size where all crystals can be
identified at a mesoscopic scale; porphyroblasts interrupt
parting cleavage
Disjunctive Cleavage
 Crenulation cleavage: S2 cleavage cuts (transposes) pre-existing
S1 cleavage
 Discrete Crenulation Cleavage: very narrow cleavage domains sharply
truncate microlithons. This type tends to form in finer-grained slates.
 Zonal Crenulation Cleavage: S2 cleavage forms zones separating
microlithons containing tight folds of S1 foliation. This type tends to
form in coarser-grained schists.
 Spaced Cleavage: parallel partings separated by unaffected
domains at a 1 to 10 cm spacing. Typically the parting fractures
contain styolites with carbonaceous insoluble residue. Spaced
cleavage tends to form in quartzite and/or marble. The cleavage
domains often show apparent offset (but not true offset).
Discrete Crenulation Cleavage
 Note sharp truncation of S1 and thin S2 cleavage domain
S2
Cleavage
Domain
Zonal Crenulation Cleavage
 S2 cleavage domains form zones of measurable
thickness separating microlithons of folded S1
S2 cleavage domain
Spaced Cleavage Example
 Discrete cleavage partings separated by 1 to 10
cm unaffected zones
 Apparent offset typical along cleavage surface
Spaced cleavage S1
S0
Formation of Cleavage Domains
 Mainly a process of dissolution of
quartz+feldspar leaving mica and insoluble
residue (i.e. graphite) in the cleavage domain
 This will produce an apparent shear offset that is
not real
Cleavage Domain
Directed stress
Zone of Dissolution
Microscopic Properties of Cleavage
 M-Domains: mica-rich
domains in slaty cleavage
 QF-Domains: quartz+K-
feldspar domains in slaty
cleavage
Microscopic Properties of Cleavage
 M and QF domains in a
schist from Ducktown
TN
M Domain
QF Domain
Strain Significance of Slaty Cleavage
 Slaty Cleavage forms perpendicular to direction
of maximum shortening (Z Axis of the finite
strain ellipsoid).
 Shortening is commonly 75% (SZ=0.25).
 Fossils, reductions spots, oolites, etc. have been
used to verify that the Z axis of the finite strain
ellipse is perpendicular to slaty cleavage.
 Much of the shortening is accomplished through
pressure solution rather than ductile flow.
 Pressure solution explains alternating M and QF
domains but not the preferred alignment of mica within
the M domain
 Sorby (1856) explained the alignment of mica with a
model comprised of a square block of wax embedded
with randomly oriented metal flakes.
 Flattening the wax block into a rectangle progressively
rotates the random metal flakes into a preferred
alignment.
 Sorby Experiment
 Mechanical rotation explains mica preferred
alignment but what about the preferred
alignment of quartz and feldspar in QF
domains?
 Close examination of QF domains reveal “strain
shadows” of precipitated quartz and/or feldspar
around original grains in low pressure zones in
the X-Y plane of the finite strain ellipsoid.
Strain Shadows in Slaty Cleavage
 Quartz overgrowths on pyrite grains (opaque
pyrite displays the overgrowths perfectly)
pyrite Quartz overgrowths

Strain Significance of Slaty Cleavage:
Volume Loss
 Studies of fossil graptolites in the Martinsburg
slate indicated that volume loss during slaty
cleavage formation is approximately 50%
 Dilation of this magnitude would render the
concept of plane strain useless
Types of Lineation
 Mineral lineation: often the result of q+f
dissolution (hbl, qtz, bi, ms, ky, st)
 Intersection lineation: intersection of original
bedding (S0) & cleavage/foliation (S1)
 Boudinage: pinch & swell structure
 Crenulation lineation: abundant small folds with
wavelengths < 1 cm produce a visual
mesoscopic lineation
Lineation Geometry
 If lineations form synchronous with fold the lineation will be
coaxial with hinge (plots of lineations will group at hinge point
on stereonet)
 If lineations exist before folding and the fold mechanism is
flexural slip (Ramsay Class 1B) they will be deformed into a small
circle (conical) geometry with the hinge of the fold being the
cone axis
 If lineations exist before folding with a passive slip mechanism
(Ramsay Class 2) the lineations will be deformed into a great
circle distribution
 If lineations form post folding they will group at an average
attitude that has no relationship to the hinge of the previous
folding event
Types of Foliation
 Schistosity: mesoscopic preferred alignment of platy
mineral grains (usually mica) that define an “S” surface
(S1, S2, etc.). To “see” schistosity the grains in the rock
must be visible.
 Gneissosity: parallel bands 1cm or greater in thickness
produced in coarse-grained metamorphic rocks by q+f
dissolution. This is the highest grade of metamorphism-
the next step is melting (anatexis)
 Foliation often is axial planar to synchronous folding; if
K-Ar dating of mica forming axial planar foliation
yields 350 Ma then the folding event must be 350 Ma
Exam Summary
 Know the geometric relationship of axial planar
cleavage to upright/overturned limbs of folded bedding
 Be able to list and sketch the cleavage classification
 Be able to sketch cleavage zones versus microlithon
zones and describe how they form via dissolution
 Be able to list and sketch the types of lineation and be
able to discuss the geometric relationship of lineations
to folding
 Be able to list and describe the types of foliation and
how it forms

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pyrite Quartz overgrowths

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