Anticlines and Synclines Folds - West Virginia
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| Anticline and Syncline. Photo: Marli Miller |
This roadcut, located on U.S. Route 48 near Walnut Bottom, West Virginia, showcases a striking example of both anticlines and synclines within the Silurian Tonoloway Limestone formation.
Anticlines (visible on the left half of the roadcut) are downward-curving (convex) folds in rock layers that resemble an arch. The central part of an anticline, being the most exposed to erosion, typically displays the oldest section of rock.
Synclines (visible in the center of the roadcut) are upward-curving (concave) folds in rock layers that resemble a trough. The central part of a syncline contains the youngest section of rock.
This roadcut provides an excellent visual representation of how folding shapes rock layers, creating alternating ridges (anticlines) and valleys (synclines) in the landscape. Such features are common in regions with a history of tectonic activity, like the Appalachian Mountains.
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| Anticline and Syncline folds located on U.S. Route 48 near Walnut Bottom, West Virginia. |
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