Kinetics of differentiated stylolite formation

Stylolites are discontinuity structures in rocks, and are represented by seams of insoluble residues in partings. These are the products of pressure solution attending diagenetic compaction and post-diagenetic deformation of sediments. There are several problems concerning the genesis of stylolites, especially of those showing differentiated geometry such as conical, columnar and wavy types of mutual interdigitations between rock-block partners. These problems have been addressed here on the basis of the study of stylolites developed in limestones of the Lower Vindhyan sequence, SE Rajasthan. A kinetic model has been proposed for the formation and differentiation of stylolites. This involves pressure solution mechanism, textural instability in the rock, fluid-flow polarity changes, fluid-flow perturbations, and progressive diagenetic and/or tectonic strain and its local partitioning.