A Study of Stylolite Development

Abstract

<p>A petrographic study of samples from the Lockport Formation, all having undergone stylolitization has shown two stages of stylolite development.</p> <p>Stage One - The development of microstylolites and microstylolite swarms leads to the formation of a stylolite. Through the process of amalgamation, microstylolites in a swarm merge together to form an "adolescent" stylolite. Geometric changes of the solution seams are analagous to the principle of superposition of waves.</p> <p>Stage Two- An "adolescent" stylolite grows into a "mature" stylolite as the result of discrete solution of the surface. The geometry of the stylolite becomes more sutured and interpenetrating as a result of pressure-solution.</p> <p>The formation of a stylolite suggests an even greater volume loss than would be anticipated by the amplitude of the solution surface. Stylolite development is an active evolutionary process.</p>