The sheath folds in the Tananao Group between Tienshiang and Tailuko, east-west cross-island highway, Taiwan

Abstract

Sheath folds or “eye” folds on decimetric to metric scales are well-developed in the metachert-marble-green rock interlayers of the Changchun Formation and in the marble lens of the Tienhsiang Formation, within the Tananao Group between Tienhsiang and Tailuko, along E-W cross-island highway of Taiwan. Closely associated with the sheath folds are the tight to isoclinal folds with rectilinear axes which are parallel to the hinge line of the “eyes”, and the directions of these folds range from N-S to N30°E with gentle plunges to the north or south. The sheath folds are believed to have been formed during the second phase of deformation in this region. The traces of the earlier folding can generally be found at the hinges or limbs of these sheath folds. The explanation presented here is that the sheath fold might be generated episodically during the F 2 deformational phase throughout the entire history of progressive shearing as a result of episodic instability of the flow with successive refolding of metamorphic fabric, during Plio-Pleistocene deformation of Taiwan.