ES3101: Advanced Structural Geology

Lecture 4: Primary Structures as Keys to decipher Rock Deformation

Sedimentary Rocks Reference: Chapter 2; Earth Structure

3. Features at bottom surface of sedimentary rocks

G. Load casts (Ball-and-Pillow structures):
Bulbous protrusion of sand layer extending down to mud/very fine sand layer.
Prior to lithification
Density difference
Earthquake/storm
denser sand sink
into underlying mud

Flame
structure

3. Features at bottom surface of sedimentary rocks

(I)

Penecontemporaneous structures: Beds sufficiently lithified prior to movement

along an initial gentle slope in a tectonically active region gravity (slumping)

Sedimentary layers folded & pulled apart,

thrusted on top of another

3. Features at bottom surface of sedimentary rocks

(I) Penecontemporaneous structures:
Slump Structures
Gravity driven: movement of sediments (with cohesion) along slope breakaway zone

Chaotic structures in a zone of variable thickness

Quiz: Can you distinguish?

(I)

3. Features at bottom surface of sedimentary rocks

Penecontemporaneous structures:Beds sufficiently lithified prior to movement

along an initial gentle slope in a tectonically active region gravity (slumping)

Sedimentary layers folded & pulled apart,

thrusted on top of another

Convolute lamination:
Confined to few beds
Folding dies out both upward
& downward
Folds asymmetric, sizes &
Orientations differ
Intraformational

ES3101: Advanced Structural Geology

Lecture 4: Primary structures in igneous rocks

Reference: Earth Structure, Chapter 2

Igneous rocks
Environment of cooling
A. Extrusive rocks:
From lava that flowed over earths surface & cooled under air/water (lava flows)
Ash from volcanic vent (pyroclastics): explosive extrusion; forming sedimentary layers
made up of igneous material
B. Intrusive rocks:

Cooled beneath earths surface

Primary structures in extrusive rocks

lava underwater surface cools glassy skin
A.Pillow lavas:Basaltic
P increases skin punctures lava pushes through
quickly freezes

Convex up

Pillow Lavas

Primary structures in extrusive rocks

B. Vesicles:

Gas bubbles at top of the lava flow

Vesicles filled with secondary
minerals amygdules

C. Columnar Joints :

Cooling contracts 3-6 sided columns long

axes perpendicular to isotherms (flow boundaries)

Fig. 7.03d

Columnar Joints

Columnar Joints

Primary structures in extrusive rocks

D. Pahoehoe (ropy or folded lava)

Primary structures in extrusive rocks

E. Aa lava (blocky lava):

Effects of Pore Fluid Pressure on the Mohr Envelope

ss = C + m(sn - pf)

Extension fractures can occur at great depths