recumbent fold

geology

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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In geology, a recumbent fold is a type of fold where the axial plane is essentially horizontal. This means the fold has been tilted over so far that its limbs are nearly parallel to the axial plane, and the fold itself lies on its side.1

Folds, in general, are undulations or waves in the stratified rocks of Earth's crust. They form when originally flat-lying rock layers are warped. The size of folds can vary greatly, from centimeters to hundreds of kilometers across.1

A recumbent fold is a specific type of fold, distinct from anticlines (convex upward) and synclines (concave upward). These large-scale structural features, often found in mountain belts, can involve the tectonic transport of rocks over significant distances.12

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fold
A recumbent fold has an essentially horizontal axial plane. When the two limbs of a fold are essentially parallel to each other and thus approximately parallel to the axial plane, the fold is called isoclinal.
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A recumbent fold has an essentially horizontal axial plane. When the two limbs of a fold are essentially parallel to each other and thus approximately parallel to the axial plane, the fold is called isoclinal.
Read More