In structural geology, a syncline is a fold with younger layers closer to the center of the structure, whereas an anticline is the inverse of a syncline. A synclinorium (plural synclinoriums or synclinoria) is a large syncline with superimposed smaller folds.[Synclinorium. (2008). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 03, 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/578375/synclinorium] Synclines are typically a downward fold ( synform), termed a synformal syncline (i.e. a trough), but synclines that point upwards can be found when strata have been overturned and folded (an antiformal syncline).
Characteristics
On a geologic map, synclines are recognized as a sequence of rock
stratum, with the youngest at the fold's center or
hinge and with a reverse sequence of the same rock layers on the opposite side of the hinge. If the fold pattern is circular or elongate, the structure is a
Structural basin. Folds typically form during crustal deformation as the result of compression that accompanies
Orogeny mountain building.
Notable examples
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Powder River Basin, Wyoming, US
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Sideling Hill roadcut along Interstate 68 in western Maryland, US, where the Rockwell Formation and overlying Pocono Formation are exposed
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Forêt de Saou syncline in Saou, France
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Southland Syncline in the southeastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand, including The Catlins and the Hokonui Hills
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Strathmore Syncline, Scotland
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Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges, South Australia
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Fort Valley, Shenandoah County, Virginia
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Hondo Group Syncline in the Picuris Mountains of New Mexico, an example of an overturned syncline
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Afikpo syncline, Nigeria
==Gallery==
roadcut]]
Syncline in the Barstow Formation near Barstow, California]]
Wills Creek Formation or Bloomsburg Formation at Roundtop Hill (Maryland)]]
See also
