Deformation bands in fault core

3D Model

This sandstone block sits out of place, but adjacent to a fault zone along the northeastern side of Salt Valley, Paradox Basin, Utah. This block was likely entrained in the fault damage zone due to hard linkage of adjacent fault segments, causing it to be extensively deformed by deformation band formation and small scale faulting. On freshly-fractured faces, you can see that the sandstone is pink, indicative of a terrestrial depositional environment and deformation bands are white due to localized crushing and compaction of the quartz grains, which is associated with a significant decrease in permeability.