# Deformation bands

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Geological mechanism producing small fault lines

**Deformation bands** are small [faults](/source/Fault_(geology)) with very small displacements. In the past, these bands have been called Luder's bands or braided shear fractures.[1][2] They often precede large faults. They develop in [porous rocks](/source/Porosity), such as [sandstone](/source/Sandstone). Material in a deformation band has a much smaller grain size, poorer sorting, and a lower porosity than the original sandstone. They can restrict and/or change the flow of fluids like water and oil. They are common in the [Colorado Plateau](/source/Colorado_Plateau),[3] where examples occur in the [Entrada Sandstone](/source/Entrada_Sandstone) in the [San Rafael Swell](/source/San_Rafael_Swell) in [Utah](/source/Utah).[1]

Deformation bands are present in a variety of porous rock types such as [sandstones](/source/Sandstone), [limestones](/source/Limestone), [siltstones](/source/Siltstone), poorly welded volcanic [tuffs](/source/Tuff), and [breccias](/source/Breccia). The [cataclastic](/source/Cataclastic) and compactional bands often form seals and prevent the flow of [groundwater](/source/Groundwater) or [oil](/source/Petroleum). In their formation grains shift their packing and are crushed.[4]

The group of lines running up and down in the image are believed to be deformation bands. They can be thought of as small faults.

The [Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter](/source/Mars_Reconnaissance_Orbiter) showed deformation bands in Capen Crater, located in the [Arabia quadrangle](/source/Arabia_quadrangle).[5] The bands represent failure by localized frictional sliding.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Schultz_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Schultz_1-1) Schultz, R. 2009. Fractures and Deformation Bands in Rock: A Field Guide and Journey into Geologic Fracture Mechanics. Oxford University Press

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [DOI.org](http://www.springerlink.com/content/r70236158556gww32/)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Structural geology on the Colorado Plateau"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110724185916/http://folk.uib.no/nglhe/Utah.html). Archived from [the original](http://folk.uib.no/nglhe/Utah.html) on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2009-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Schultz, R. and R. Siddharthan. 2005. A general framework for the occurrence and faulting of deformation bands in porous granular rocks. Tectonophysics: 411. 1-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: Multimedia"](https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/gallery/press/20080918c.html).

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