foliationteoorias
Foliation theories are a set of geological hypotheses that explain the development of planar fabrics within metamorphic rocks. The term foliation itself refers to a repetitive set of mineral alignments or layering that gives a rock a layered or sheeted appearance. These fabrics arise when minerals recrystallise or deform under directed pressure during metamorphism, creating anisotropy in the rock's mechanical properties. Foliation is therefore an essential field indicator for interpreting the tectonic history and stress regime that a rock has experienced.
The earliest explanations focused on mechanical deformation, proposing that differential stress induced by tectonic forces directly
Testing foliation theories relies on petrographic analysis, electron microprobe measurements of mineral orientations, and mechanical deformation