slickenside
/ˈslɪk(ə)nsʌɪd
/noun (usually slickensides) Geology
A polished and striated rock surface that results from friction along a fault or bedding plane.Brittle deformation is evident from a number of fault planes showing quartz slickensides consistently dipping at c.40 deg to the southeast....
- Main normal-throw components are documented both by steps on the fault slickensides and by downthrown offsets of basaltic layers.
- There is limited evidence from slickensides for dip-slip movement along this fault.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from a dialect variant of the adjective slick + side.