Drawing folds

Folds record the deformation of strata and reveal the tectonic processes by which the Earth’s crust has evolved. In this chapter the techniques used to create field sketches of folds are described together with the important features of these structures that need to be recorded. Careful observation is needed in drawing fold structures prior to drawing to identify the trace of the fold axial planes on the outcrop. The importance of the fold axial plane in the geometry of fold structures is stressed. Two worked examples of field sketches of simple folds are given to illustrate the tactics involved in observing and drawing these structures.