A monocline (or, rarely, a monoform) is a step-like fold in rock strata consisting of a zone of steeper dip within an otherwise horizontal or gently-dipping sequence.
Formation[]
Possible modes of formation of monoclines
Monoclines may be formed in several different ways (see diagram)
- By differential compaction over an underlying structure, particularly a large fault at the edge of a basin due to the greater compactibility of the basin fill, the amplitude of the fold will die out gradually upwards.[1]
- By mild reactivation of an earlier extensional fault during a phase of inversion causing folding in the overlying sequence.[2]
- As a form of fault propagation fold during upward propagation of an extensional fault in basement into an overlying cover sequence.[3]
- As a form of fault propagation fold during upward propagation of a reverse fault in basement into an overlying cover sequence.[4]
Examples[]
- Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
- Grandview-Phantom Monocline in the Grand Canyon, Arizona
- Lapstone monocline in the Blue Mountains (Australia)
- Purbeck Monocline on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England
See also[]
References[]
External links[]
http://bio-geo-terms.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_bio-geo-terms_archive.html