stylolite

[′stī·lə‚līt]

(geology)

An irregular surface, generally parallel to a bedding plane, in which small toothlike projections on one side of the surface fit into cavities of complementary shape on the other surface; interpreted to result diagenetically by pressure solution.

stylolite

A jointed or irregular columnar structure occasionally found in beds of limestone, uniting the adjoining surfaces of two layers of rock.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Stylolite

a type of feature encountered in sedimentary rocks wherein spinous or columnar projections on the surface of one layer fit into cavities of complementary shape on a second layer. In cross section, the stylolite surface suggests gear teeth in mesh. The columns can reach 1 m in length, and their sides are covered with striations parallel to the longitudinal axis. A clayey substance forms along the plane of the seam. Stylolites are often converted to sutures—zigzag seams with conical teeth. Stylolites occur in limestones and, more rarely, dolomites, coal, argillites, quartzites, gypsum, and other sedimentary formations.

REFERENCES

Kholodov, V. N. “K voprosu o proiskhozhdenii suturo-stilolitovykh shvov.” Izv. AN SSSR: Ser. geologicheskaia, 1955, no. 2.
Bushinskii, G. I. “O stilolitakh.” Izv. AN SSSR: Ser. geologicheskaia, 1961, no. 8.

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References in periodicals archive

The chemical compaction is evident by the formation of stylolites (Fig.

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Some diagenetic features like stylolites and fracturing are present (Fig.

Diagenetic History and Microfacies Analysis of Upper Permian Wargal Limestone in the Central Salt Range, Pakistan

Group I veins usually crosscut compaction stylolites (Figure 2(a)) but are sometimes crosscut by the latter (Figure 2(b));

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The limestone exhibits numerous stylolites in which many clastic grains are concentrated in the clay seams (Fig.

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The stylolites, sutured and abraded grain contacts represent chemical dissolution of the rock material while silica overgrowth and dolomitization represents their reprecipitation along grain margins and fractures.

Reservoir Characterisation of Lower Cretaceous Clastic Succession of Nizampur Basin, Eastern Tethys; Pakistan

It is also important to note that in some of the studied sections, the possible lithified microbial mats can be mistaken with surfaces in which dissolution of carbonates had occurred due to compressive forces (stylolites).

Biological and geological characterization of modern biofilms and microbial mats and comparison with similar lithified structures in Colombian Cretaceous formations/Caracterizacion biologica y geologica de biopeliculas y tapetes microbianos actuales y comparacion con estructuras litificadas similares en formaciones cretacicas de Colombia

Jutana Formation is mainly characterized by, trough-, herring-bone-, hummocky- cross bedding at upper bedding planes and bedding parallel stylolites. Above the shale interval, there is dolomite which becomes fine grained and then gradually changes to dolomitic sandstone.

SEDIMENTOLOGY OF THE EARLY MIDDLE CAMBRIAN JUTANA FORMATION OF KHEWRA AREA, EASTERN SALT RANGE,DISTRICT CHAKWAL, PAKISTAN

The movement along the plane of fracture is usually demonstrated by presence of some kind of the kinematic indicator (calcite steps, slickenlines, stylolites, etc.).

Detailed brittle tectonic analysis of the limestones in the quarries near Vapenna village (case study)

The stone is massive, but the thickness of extracted blocks is limited by stylolites.

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The calcite layers are highly recrystallized with ubiquitous bedding-parallel stylolites (Fig.

Structural transect through Silurian turbidites of the Fredericton Belt southwest of Fredericton, New Brunswick: the role of the Fredericton Fault in late Iapetus convergence

In the limestones, pressure solution has resulted in the formation of stylolites (Figure 4D), while fenestral porosity (Figure 3C) formed as a result of the decay of organic material.

Sedimentology, Palynology, and Sea Level Fluctuations Recorded From Two Pennsylvanian Cores From Northwestern Missouri

The appearance of stylolites in both ore and wall rock indicate that replacement may have been important.

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