slickenside

geology

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Slickensides are smooth, often striated surfaces found on rocks. They are created by the movement of rock along a fault or a smaller fracture. The term "slickenside" comes from the English dialect word "slicken," meaning smooth, combined with "side".1

The term "slickens" can refer to a thin layer of fine silt deposited by floodwaters or finely pulverized material from mining operations. It can also be used synonymously with "slickenside".2

In a different context, a "slick" is a glassy patch on a water surface formed by a layer of organic matter or pollutants that reduces surface tension.3

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fault
…marking them with striations called slickensides, or it may crush them to a fine-grained, claylike substance known as fault gouge; when the crushed rock is relatively coarse-grained, it is referred to as fault breccia. Occasionally, the beds adjacent to the fault plane fold or bend as they resist slippage because…
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…marking them with striations called slickensides, or it may crush them to a fine-grained, claylike substance known as fault gouge; when the crushed rock is relatively coarse-grained, it is referred to as fault breccia. Occasionally, the beds adjacent to the fault plane fold or bend as they resist slippage because…
Read More