[Rockhounds] Stylolites

[Johan Maertens]

I never realized it
But must have been walking over many while hiking and collecting in limestone quarries
I always assumed the squiggly lines in the rock were thin marine clay or volcanic ash deposits at one time

Now I learned about Stylolites
I collected a few last weekend
And they seem quite common.

For the non-USA members
I use the American term: stylolites are large planes (some over 1 km long/wide)
Not the individual 'cones'

I looked up that geology phenomenon
And cannot quite understand

Under pressure,
Grains in rocks dissolve (dissolution anyone)
All along a same line?

Is stylolite formation a dry or wet process?
Any heat involved?

Johan Maertens
Mr dot Calcite at live dot com