Bons, P. D. 2000. The formation of veins and their microstructures. In: Stress, Strain and Structure, A volume in honour of W D Means.
Eds: M.W. Jessell and J.L.Urai. Volume 2, Journal of the Virtual Explorer.

The formation of veins and their microstructures

 

Paul D. Bons

Epsilon Earth Processes Simulation Laboratory, Department of Earth Sciences,
Monash University, Clayton (Melbourne), VIC 3168, AUSTRALIA
E-mail: bons@mail.uni-mainz.de

Table of contents

Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Terminology
2.1. macroscopic morphology
2.1.1. Pressure fringes
2.1.2. General veins
2.2. Microscopic morphology
2.2.1. Blocky texture
2.2.2. Elongate blocky texture
2.2.3. Fibrous texture
2.2.4. Stretched crystals
2.2.5. Combinations of textures
2.2.6. Partially filled veins
2.3. Growth morphology
2.3.1. Syntaxial veins
2.3.2. Antitaxial veins
2.3.3. Composite veins
2.3.4. Syntaxial & antitaxial pressure fringes
2.3.5. Ataxial or stretched veins
2.3.6. A-syn-anti-bi-uni-taxial?
2.3.7. Vein morphology and structural analysis 		3. Vein formation
3.1. transport mechanisms
3.1.1. Transport through a fluid: diffusional flow
3.1.2. Transport with a fluid: fluid flow
3.1.3. Darcian advective fluid flow
3.1.4. Mobile hydrofractures
3.2. Precipitation in a vein
3.2.1. The crack-seal mechanism
3.2.2. Vein growth without fracturing
3.2.3. Vein growth in fractures
3.2.4. Coupled fracturing and fluid flow
4. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Appendix A. Darcian flow and mobile hydrofractures
Appendix B. Crack-seal microstructures
References