Growth of stylolite teeth patterns depends on normal stress and finite compaction

TL;DR

This study introduces a discrete simulation method to model stylolite growth, revealing that their teeth-like patterns develop through two distinct stages influenced by stress and compaction, matching natural observations.

Contribution

A novel discrete simulation approach for modeling stylolite development, elucidating the two-stage growth process and the influence of stress and compaction on morphology.

Findings

Stylolite teeth patterns can be accurately simulated.

Roughness growth occurs in two regimes: nonlinear increase and saturation.

Pattern morphology depends on normal stress and compaction.

Abstract

Stylolites are spectacular rough dissolution surfaces that are found in many rock types. Despite many studies, their genesis is still debated, particularly the time scales of their formation and the relationship between this time and their morphology. We developed a new discrete simulation technique to explore the dynamic growth of the stylolite roughness, starting from an initially flat dissolution surface. We demonstrate that the typical steep stylolite teeth geometry can accurately be modelled and reproduce natural patterns. The growth of the roughness takes place in two successive time regimes: i) an initial non-linear increase in roughness amplitude that follows a power-law in time up to ii) a critical time where the roughness amplitude saturates and stays constant.