Earth:Striation (geology)

Short description: Groove, created by a geological process, on the surface of a rock or a mineral

Striations (slickenfibres) on a fault surface near Kilve, England

In geology, a striation is a groove, created by a geological process, on the surface of a rock or a mineral.

In structural geology, striations are linear furrows, or linear marks, generated from fault movement. The striation's direction reveals the movement direction in the fault plane.

Similar striations, called glacial striations, can occur in areas subjected to glaciation. Striations can also be caused by underwater landslides.

Striations can also be a growth pattern or mineral habit that looks like a set of hairline grooves, seen on crystal faces of certain minerals. Examples of minerals that can show growth striations include pyrite, feldspar, quartz, tourmaline, chalcocite and sphalerite.

See also

• Slickenside