Wednesday, 21 September 2016

Structural geology - Folding in the Pilbera

The Pilbera has undergone two significant phases of compression, N-S resulting in E-W folds and NNE-SSW -> NE-SW resulting in ENE-WNW (ish) folding. The overprinting of these two deformations creates some lovely interference patterns. I rather like the M fold in this hillside as erosion and the inclination of the bedding has conspired to turn it into a heart shape. M folds are typically found in a fold hinge of an F1 (first deformation fold) but can form on the limbs of an F1 when it is refolded by D2 (Deformation #2) creating F2 folds which are typically non-cylindrical due to the prior orientation of the bedding.

If you're interested in how interference patterns look with at a variety of orientation, plunge and dips visit the wonderful page by the Fault Analysis Group at the Univeristy College of Dublin.


Wednesday, 7 September 2016

Fossil tree - Inverloch, Victoria

Cliff panorama showing a fossilised tree stump in-situ in the center left.

Close up of the tree showing bedding of sands above and below it. All beds tilt approximately 10 degrees to the East.

Zoom in of the stump showing the roots still twining through the now lithified sediments. Floods can do some amazing things and it's pretty awesome that this tree has been preserved like this!