Chapter 26, Problem 17TE

If you found tilted beds of sedimentary rock that are part of a fold, what detail, other than the direction they tilted, would you need to know in order to tell if the fold was an anticline or a syncline?

To determine

Whether the fold was an anticline or a syncline.

Answer to Problem 17TE

The geologist uses the patterns of rock to determine that the fold was an anticline or a syncline.

Explanation of Solution

Anticlines are the up folds, and syncline is the down folds. The reason for the occurrence of these folds is compression stress. Both the faults generally take place at the same time.

The geologist uses the patterns of rock to determine that the fold was an anticline or a syncline. In anticlines, each half of the fold dips away from the crest. While in syncline, each half of the fold dips towards the trough of the fold. Anticlines can be noted by their shape as they form A shape. In contrast, a syncline is identified by S shape. In syncline, the youngest rocks are found in the center of the fold.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the geologist uses the patterns of rock to determine that the fold was an anticline or a syncline.