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Mechanisms of Rock Deformation

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Structural Geology

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Abstract

The structures and microstructures of rocks that we see today are the culmination of several mechanisms that the rocks have undergone in the geological past. A mechanism of rock deformation broadly means the process that tends to accommodate large strains in rocks, thus leading to a stable structure/microstructure to the rock. The processes operate on different scales, but those operating on grain scales bring about significant changes to the structure and texture of rocks. The processes may operate singly or in combination with other ones. The various physico-mechanical conditions that prevailed during a particular mechanism may change with time and in turn may trigger another mechanism(s) to operate. This chapter is a survey of the various mechanisms of rock deformation that operate on microscale and mesoscale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology (Retired), University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India

    A. R. Bhattacharya

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  1. A. R. Bhattacharya
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Bhattacharya, A.R. (2022). Mechanisms of Rock Deformation. In: Structural Geology. Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80795-5_16

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