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Chapter Five: Structural Analysis

Structural architecture of ucStrtural architecture of the Bengal Basin has been

strongly controlled by the collision pattern of the Indian plate with the Burma and
Tibetan plates. The eastern fold belt of the Basin comprising a series of north
south trending curvilinear anticlines and synclines, represents a fold and thrust
belt that constitutes the westward continuation of Arakan-Chin fold system of the
Indo-Burman Ranges. The dominant fold generating mechanism is believed to be
the east west directed compressional force arising from oblique subduction of the
Indian plate beneath the Burma plate (Sikdar and Alam, 2003).
The structures of Chittagong Hill Tracts are exposed at the surface but the
presences of structures are also reported from the plain land, valley, and lowland
as well as from the subsurface by the seismic survey (Mandal & Woobaidullah,
2003).

the Bengal Basin has been strongly controlled by the collision pattern of the
Indian plate with the Burma and Tibetan plates. The eastern fold belt of the Basin
comprising a series of north south trending curvilinear anticlines and synclines,
represents a fold and thrust belt that constitutes the westward continuation of
Arakan-Chin fold system of the Indo-Burman Ranges. The dominant fold
generating mechanism is believed to be the east west directed
compressional force arising from oblique subduction of the Indian plate beneath
the Burma plate (Sikdar and Alam, 2003).
The structures of Chittagong Hill Tracts are exposed at the surface but the
presences of structures are also reported from the plain land, valley, and lowland
as well as from the subsurface by the seismic survey (Mandal & Woobaidullah,
2003).

Structural features of the investigated Structural architecture of the Bengal Basin

has been strongly controlled by the collision pattern of the Indian plate with the
Burma and Tibetan plates. The eastern fold belt of the Basin comprising a series
of north south trending curvilinear anticlines and synclines, represents a fold and
thrust belt that constitutes the westward continuation of Arakan-Chin fold system
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Chapter Five: Structural Analysis

of the Indo-Burman Ranges. The dominant fold generating mechanism is believed

to be the east west directed compressional force arising from oblique subduction
of the Indian plate beneath the Burma plate (Sikdar and Alam, 2003).
The structures of Chittagong Hill Tracts are exposed at the surface but the
presences of structures are also reported from the plain land, valley, and lowland
as well as from the subsurface by the seismic survey (Mandal & Woobaidullah,
2003).

area can be described by:

1. Major structure

2. Minor structure

MAJOR STRUCTURE
Asymmetrical Anticlinal Fold:

A  geological fold occurs when one or a stack of originally flat

and planar surfaces, such as sedimentary strata, are bent or curved as a result of
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Chapter Five: Structural Analysis

permanent deformation. Synsedimentary folds are those due to slumping of

sedimentary material before it is lithified. Folds in rocks vary in size from
microscopic crinkles to mountain-sized folds. They occur singly as isolated folds
and in extensive fold trains of different sizes, on a variety of scales.
An asymmetrical fold is one in which the axial plane is inclined. An anticline is a
fold that is convex upward .

The “Bandarban anticline” is an asymmetrical fold which axial surface is inclined

and axis is directed about N15W . The attitude measurent of western flank and
eastern flank also suggest an asymmetrical fold.The asymmetrical fold is also
characterized by plunge which is determined by lithologic repetition and attitude
data. The “Bandarban anticline” is plunge in the north to north-north west.
Plunging is evident by dip direction toward North near the axis and toward west
in western flank and toward east in eastern flank. The structure posses the
general trend of N-NW to S-SE, which is roughly parallel to the other structure. It
is the northern part of the Chimbuk Structure in the folded belt of Bangladesh.
The studied portion of the anticline is about 14 km long and 13 km wide and lies
to the west of Lakhadaung Anticline. In the North it is separated from South
plunging Bandarban Structure.
Recognizable criteria of Bandarban Anticline identification in the field:
• Direct visual observation of this region indicates that the structure is a
large scale fold which is convex upward.
• The attitudes of rock strata show that the beds are dipping in the
opposite direction from a place that represents an imaginary line.
• Dip direction indicate that oldest rock is at the centre, which is shale and
younger rock is at the outer side, which sandstone. The dip directions
are account during field investigation.
• The cross-sections of the structure from east to west also support the
anticlinal structure
• The imaginary line along the lowest dip amount is the axis of fold.
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Chapter Five: Structural Analysis

The dip direction in the western flank varies from 25 to 70. The dip direction of
beds in some outcrops shows opposite direction to that of the corresponding
flank, it indicates some local disturbance.
Fault:

 Fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of rock, across

which there has been significant displacement as a result of rock-mass
movement. Large faults within the Earth's crust result from the action of plate
tectonic forces, with the largest forming the boundaries between the plates, such
as subduction zones or transform faults. Energy release associated with rapid
movement on active faults is the cause of most earthquakes.

Faults can be recognized by:

• Repetition of strata or lithological irregularities.
• An abrupt change in dip amount in the eastern flank of the anticline.
• Structural control of river.
• Presence of drag fold.
• Two or more types of joints are present.
• Presence of the minor fault.
• An abrupt change in topography

MINOR STRUCTURE
In the field observation various type of minor structure are found. These are given
below:
 Drag Fold
 Cleavage
 Thrust fault
 Joint
 Fracture
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Chapter Five: Structural Analysis

 Nodular
 Local unconformity

Drag Fold:

It is a minor geological fold produced in soft or thinly laminated beds

lying between harder or more massive beds in the limbs of a major fold. It is a
minor fold usually one of a series formed in an incompetent bed lying between
more competent beds produced by movement of the competent beds in opposite
directions relative to one another. Drag folds may also develop beneath a thrust
sheet. They are usually a centimeter to a few meters in size.

Plate 33:Drag fold Mechanism

Plate 34:Drag Fold

Cleavage :
Generally the plane along which the rock break apart termed as
cleavage.Cleavage in structural geology and petrology, describes a type of planar
rock feature that develops as a result of deformation and metamorphism.Tectonic
force releases through the weaker portion of rock that originates cleavage.
cleavage forms during compressional tectonic events that produce folding,
therefore, the cleavage is usually axial planar to at least one generation of
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Chapter Five: Structural Analysis

folding.Cleavage planes are distinguished from fracture by being smooth and

often having reflective surfaces.

Plate 35:Cleavage

Thrust fault:
A low-angle reverse fault produced in rocks subjected to a
thrust.A fault in which the rocks on the upper side of an inclined fault plane
have been displaced upwards usually by compression is a thrust fault.It is a
type of reverse fault that has a dip of 45 degrees or less. Thrust faults with a
very low angle of dip and a very large total displacement are
called overthrusts or detachments.

Plate 36:Thrust Fault

joint:
A joint is a break (fracture) of natural origin in the continuity of either
a layer or body of rock that lacks any visible or measurable movement parallel
to the surface (plane) of the fracture.Joints may have smooth, clean surfaces,
or they may be scarred by slickensides, or striations. Jointing does not extend
to a very great depth in the Earth’s crust, because at about 12 kilometres (7.5
miles) even rigid rocks tend to flow plastically in response to stress.
Fracture:
Fracture is a very special term of joint when there is a vertical displacement
between the two blocks then it is called fracture (Billings 1972). Fracture in rock
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Chapter Five: Structural Analysis

which has no preferred orientation Fracture was found in both the investigated
section. The main difference of the fracture from the joint is, the joint are always
oriented but the fracture are not always oriented.

Local unconformity:
Is a substantial gap between two rock unit. The gap between deposition of two
lithologic formation indicate the unconformity. It indicate difference in
depositional environment. In the Bandarban road cut section local unconformity
are observed.

Nodular Structures:
It is found in siltstone or in Silty shale. It is the mechanical sedimentary structure
which is formed due to water escape. Nodular structure may be spherical,
rounded, or oval shaped.