BEAVERTAIL

Our data from Beavertail (RI) shows two clear

folding events, one with a NW-SE trending
fold axis and the other with a NE-SW trending
axis. We found the NE-trending fold to be
more prominent on the eastern half and point
of the Beavertail area. The relative thickness
of the hinge to the limbs as in figure 3
indicates an open to tight Class 2 or 3 fold.
The even distribution of points along the pi-
axis on the stereonet indicates a smooth
cylindrical curve, as depicted in figure 3.
Though not present in stereonet view, the
presence of parasitic folding within the F1
structure suggests further deformations
probably twoafter the initial F1 event. Figure 3. F1 folding event. Photo taken by the
These events, particularly the formation of the point near the eastern half of the Beavertail
fault.
Beavertail shear zone would have caused
further alteration and caused further changes to the orientation of folds in the eastern
Beavertail area.

The F2 event trends in the NW direction, as in figure 4. Previous research on the

area suggests that the folds on this side were a result of sediment-slump features, which
can be seen primarily in the folding and kinking of quartz veins and boudinage structures.
F2 likely occurred prior to F1 and was re-folded and altered further with the docking of

Figure 1. BEAVER TAIL FOLD EVENT F1. Similar the fold 1 on Figure 2. BEAVERTAIL FOLD EVENT F2. The line bisecting the
the left the diagram depicts the pi-circle, axial surface and fold 1% area contour is the pi-circle and the almost 90 degree plunge
axis. plane is the axial surface. The point in the NW quadrant is the
fold(pi) axis.
 the Avalon terrain on Laurentia during the
Alleghanian orogeny. The F2 folds are
open to isoclinal class 2 folds and more
present on the western side of the
Beavertail fault. The concentration of
points in the NE quadrant of the figure 2
suggests a tighter and more extreme
folding structure, visible in figure 4.
Small-scale rotation of lineations around
the Beavertail fault are also present and
suggest that faulting is the cause for
Figure 4. Proposed F2 folding event. Photo taken on altered fold axes in the F2 area. The
west side of main Beavertail fault. Fold axis in NW presence of minor boudinage and parasitic
direction. structures in the western F2 fold area are
further results of the main shear fault and other smaller fractures in the area.

NEWPORT NECK

The Newport area our group analyzed was riddled with small faults that usually produced
fractured planes rather than cohesive fold structures, which was very different from what
we saw on the southern end of Newport neck. The presence of a wide area of emplaced
rocks between the northern and southern fold structures makes it unclear where the exact
point of contact is, though some interpretation of Newport data suggest the area is an
overturned unconformity. The Newport stereonet indicates folding with its axis angled
towards the NE quadrant, similar to fold event F2 in Beavertail. All planes are angled in
this direction, though due to small scale faulting also in the NE/SW direction and some
rotational motion there are some inconsistencies present, as can be seen in figure 5.

Figure 5. Newport stereonet and contour diagram.