Fold-Folds may be defined as wavy structure formed when originally flat and

planar surfaces such as bedding, foliation or other originally planar surface in rocks
are bent or curved as a result of deformation.
Folds range in size from mm to km.
Are a manifestation of ductile deformation.
i.e., form at depth where T, P are high and fracturing does not occur
Fault related folds as well,
Differential compaction, intrusion etc
Can form in varieties of deformational environments of
Earthss crust from near surface brittle condition to
lower crust ductile conditions
Limb
Limb
Hinge points
Anatomy of Fold
Axial trace
Inflection
point
Fold Axis
Interlimb
angle
Amplitude
Based on the orientation of various anatomical features of
the fold, geometrically it can be classified into the following
1)Based on the sense of curvature
2) Based on the plunge of Fold Axis
3) Based on the orientation of axial plane
4) Based on direction of younging relative to sense of fold
closure:
5) Based on symmetry of folds
6) Based on the nature of Axial plane and Hinge line.
7) Based on interlimb angle
8) Based on the shape of the hinge
9) Based on number of hinge
10) Based on the geometrical relations among neighbouring
structures:
11) Morphological Classification
1)Based on the sense of curvature
Neutral Fold
2) Based on the plunge of Fold Axis
Fleuty (1964) further made classification on
the basis of the amount of plunge of fold axis

0
0
and 10
o
-Subhorizontal fold
10
0
and 30
0
-Gently plunging fold.
30
0
and 60
0
-Moderately plunging fold.
60
0
and 90
0
-Steeply plunging fold
80
0
and 90
0
-Subvertical fold


Horizontal
Fold
Vertical fold
Plunging
Fold
3) Based on the orientation of axial plane
Upright fold
Recumbent fold
Inclined fold
Reclined fold
Overturned fold
Fleuty (1964) further made the following
classification based on the amount of dip of
axial plane-

Upright fold: dip 80
0
-90
0

Steeply inclined fold: dip 60
0
-80
0

Moderately inclined fold: dip 30
0
-60
0

Gently inclined fold: dip 10
0
-30
0

Recumbent fold: dip 0
0
-10
0
Based on the dip of the Axial Plane vs Plunge of the Fold Axis (Fleuty 1964)
4) Based on direction of younging relative to sense of fold closure:
Syncline
Anticline
Antiformal
Syncline
Synformal
Anticline
Anticlinoriuum and
Synclinorium
5) Based on symmetry of folds
Symmetric fold axial plane is the plane of
symmetry .
Symmetric folds are sometime describe as
M-Type folds (Ramsay 1967)
Asymmetric fold axial plane is not the
plane of symmetry
Example- S and Z-Type folds (Ramsay 1967)
6) Based on the nature of Axial plane and Hinge line.
Plane cylindrical- axial plane
and hinge line both straight
(Type 0)
Plane non cylindrical- axial plane
straight but hinge line curved (Type I)
Non plane non cylindrical- axial
plane and hinge line both are
curved (Type II)
Non plane cylindrical- axial plane
curved but hinge line straight (Type III)
7) Based on interlimb angle
Gentle fold - between 180 and 120

Open fold - between 120 and 70

Close fold - between 70 and 30

Tight fold - between 30 and > 0

Isoclinal fold -0
0

Elastica- Negative interlimb angle



Interlimb angles are measured on profile plane of folds




Round-hinged fold broad hinge zone
compared to limb

Chevron fold straight limbs and sharp
hinge

Arrow-head fold sharp hinge and
distinctly curved limbs

Cuspate fold A train of folds with sharp
hinges on one set of closure and with
rounded hinges on the opposite directed
closure

8) Based on the shape of the hinge
9) Based on number of hinge
Single-hinged fold- with single
hinge between two points
of inflection
Conjugate fold A double hinged
fold with sharp hinges
Box fold A double hinged fold
with more or less rounded hinges,
flat top and steeply dipping limbs
10) Based on the geometrical relations among neighbouring structures:
Periodic folds - A train of folds with more or less
the same geometry between alternate points of
inflection.
Non-periodic folds - Not periodic in nature.

Polyclinal folds A group of folds with non-
parallel axial planes but with sub-parallel
hinge lines
Disharmonic folds A group of folds in
which the folds of one layer differ in size or
style from folds of an overlying or underlying
layer.
Decollement A train of folds in a layer
which becomes detached from the adjacent
layer.
Morphological Classification of Ramsay-1967:
Dip Isogon: line of equal dip
Based on
Thickness
a. Orthogonal thickness (t)-measured
between tangents on limb
b. Thickness parallel to the axial trace of
the fold (T)
t

= T

cos
Ramsay classification scheme for folds
Class
Comparison of
Curvature of
inner arc &
outer arc
Dip isogon geometry
(towards inner arc)
1 C
inner
> C
outer
Dip isogons converge
1A Strongly Convergent
1B
Convergent
(Parallel folds)
1C Slightly Convergent
2 C
inner
= C
outer

Dip isogons are parallel:
(similar folds)
3 C
inner
< C
outer
Dip isogons diverge
Thank You