FOLIATION Meaning and
Definition
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Foliation, in geology, refers to the arrangement of parallel layers or bands within certain rocks. These layers are typically formed due to the alignment of minerals or the presence of distinct rock types within the larger rock mass. Foliation is a common feature in metamorphic rocks, which are rocks that have undergone significant changes in temperature, pressure, or chemical composition deep within the Earth's crust.
The process of foliation involves the development of planar structures, such as mineral grains or structural features, that align parallel to each other. This alignment often gives the rock a layered or banded appearance when viewed in cross-section. Foliation can occur in various forms, including parallel alignment of elongated minerals like mica, or the segregation of different rock types into distinct layers.
The development of foliation is typically a result of tectonic forces acting on the rock mass. These forces can cause the deformation and recrystallization of minerals, leading to the alignment of their platy or elongated shapes. Metamorphic rocks that commonly exhibit foliation include slate, phyllite, schist, and gneiss.
Foliation not only provides visual characteristics to rocks, but it also plays a substantial role in their physical properties, such as texture, strength, and permeability. Consequently, geologists study the pattern and orientation of foliation in rocks to gain insights into their geological history, the type of deformation they have undergone, and the pressures and temperatures they have experienced.
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The leafing of plants; the act of beating metal into thin plates; leaf or foil; the manner in which the young leaves of plants are arranged in the leaf-bud; in geol., the plates into which certain crystalline rocks are divided.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for FOLIATION
Etymology of FOLIATION
The word "foliation" originated from the Latin word "folium", which translates to "leaf". It refers to the act or process of forming or arranging something into separate leaves or folia. In the context of geology, "foliation" refers to the parallel arrangement of mineral grains in a rock, giving the rock a layered or leaf-like appearance.
Similar spelling words for FOLIATION
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