A method of estimating the stress exponent in the flow law for rocks using fold shape

Abstract

On the basis of experiment and theory, we expect rocks to deform in a linear fashion when diffusive processes control deformation, and nonlinearly in most other situations. The geometric characteristics of buckle folds in layered materials are dependent on rheological parameters, and in particular depend strongly on the stress exponent, n L , of the stiff layers involved. Thus, information about the deformation rocks have undergone and their rheological state during deformation can be obtained by studying fold shapes and strain distributions. This is important because there is uncertainty in extrapolating laboratory-derived flow laws to the very slow natural strain rates and large strains found in nature.