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Soil and Rock Discontinuities
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Cleavage
A type of discontinuity characterized by the splitting of rocks along parallel, evenly spaced planes, unrelated to the rock's composition. Important in the assessment of rock anisotropy and strength.
Fold
A bend in rock strata resulting from stress and pressure over time. Folds are significant for understanding stresses within the rock mass and can form traps for minerals and hydrocarbons.
Bedding plane
A plane separating two layers of sedimentary rock, each with its distinct lithologic character. Bedding planes can act as pathways for fluid flow or planes of weakness in rock engineering.
Schistosity
A type of discontinuity defined by the preferred orientation of minerals within metamorphic rocks, creating a planar structure. It influences the mechanical behavior and strength of the rock mass.
Vein
A discontinuity marked by a filled crack in the rock, often containing minerals that are different from the host rock. Veins can affect the mechanical properties of the rock and are often mined for the contained minerals.
Unconformity
A surface of erosion or non-deposition that separates younger strata from older rocks, indicative of a gap in the geological record. Unconformities can be important for understanding the geological history and stratigraphy.
Fissure
A narrow opening or crack of considerable length and depth. Fissures can greatly affect the permeability and strength of the rock mass.
Joint
A type of discontinuity in rock where there has been no significant movement parallel to the plane of the discontinuity. Critical for the stability of rock slopes and underground excavations.
Fault
A discontinuity that occurs when there has been displacement of the sides relative to one another parallel to the discontinuity surface. They can influence the flow of groundwater and the strength of the rock mass.
Breccia zone
A discontinuity characterized by broken fragments of rock cemented together by a finer grained matrix, often formed by faulting or collapse structures. Breccia zones can impact the stability and hydrogeology of rock masses.
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