Cleavages

Asad Muhammad
Department of Geology
University of Malakanad
Cleavage
• It is defined as” ability of a rock to split / cleave into more or less parallel

surfaces” OR

• “ a prominent planar structure that may differ in orientation form the original

bedding and indicate subsequent deformation and metamorphism.”

• Inclined to bedding but in some cases it may be parallel.

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Rock Fabric

• Total sum of grain shape, grain size and grain configuration in a rock.

• A cleavage is also defined as “ an expression of systematic variation in

mineralogy and fabric.”

• Cleavage is kind of secondary foliation (planar fabric).

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Fig: Crenulation Cleavages

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 Cleavage
• Systematic variation in mineralogy and fabric
gives expression to the presence of domainal
structures i.e. a kind of structural lamination
composed of alternating cleavage domain
and microlithon domain.
• Cleavage domain: thin, sub parallel preferred
orientation. Fig: Cleavage & Microlithon domain

• Microlithon domain: mineralogy and fabric of

host rock remain essentially preserved and
lacking preferred orientation.
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Types of Cleavages
• Types of cleavages are based on scale at which the character of
cleavage can be recognized.
• Two main types:
1. Continuous Cleavage
• When domainal character is recognized with the aid of petrographic
microscope i.e. slaty cleavage, phyllitic structure and Schistosity.
• Continuous cleavage cut all the rocks mass.
2. Disjunctive Cleavage
• Domainal structure can be seen with unaided eye.
• Cross-cutting and not related to original layering.
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1. Continuous Cleavage

➢ Slaty Cleavage

• A planar tectonic structure resulting from parallel orientation of clays,

muscovite and / or chlorite.

• Associated with very fine-grained rocks (< 0.5mm) metamorphosed

clayey rocks.

• Rocks cleaved perfectly into thin, tabular plates or sheets.

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1. Continuous Cleavage…

➢ Phyllitic Structure

• The Phyllitic structure is intermediate in grain size and over all

character between slaty cleavage and Schistosity.

• Alignment of fine-grained micas.

• Breaks neatly but not perfectly.

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1. Continuous Cleavage…

➢ Schistosity

• Alignment of large mica flakes i.e. muscovite, biotite, chlorite and

sericite.

• Medium grained rock (1 – 10mm)

• Seldom splits clearly and evenly when struck.

• Breaks into discoidal to crudely tabular.

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2. Disjunctive Cleavage

• It is further divided into:

i. Crenulation Cleavage

a) Discrete crenulation cleavage

b) Zonal crenulation cleavage

ii. Spaced Cleavage

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2. Disjunctive Cleavage…
i. Crenulation Cleavage

• It cuts the rocks that contain the pre-existing continuous cleavages

i.e. small-scale crinkling of existing layers.

• Pre-existing cleavages are crenulated into microfolds.

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2. Disjunctive Cleavage…

a) Discrete Crenulation Cleavage

• Broken distinct cleavage areas.

• Forms in slates

b) Zonal Crenulation Cleavage

• More ductile continuous cleavage areas.

• Forms in schist and phyllite.

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2. Disjunctive Cleavage…
ii. Spaced Cleavage

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