A new isogon-cleavage classification and its application to natural and model fold studies

Traditional methods of studying natural folds are reviewed. A new method of describing cleavage attitude in folds is presented; the β plot. The combined graph of dip isogon angle ϕ (Hudleston 1973) and cleavage angle β is proposed as a linked classification of fold and cleavage geometry. Plots of β and βϕ are given for three natural fold examples. The classification is extended to the geometry and strain attitude (βϕ₅) of two finite-element models and the classical folding models. Results are compared and some tentative conclusions drawn on the relationship of cleavage, the XY plane of strain and dip isogons.