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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint (geology) | 3/3 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_(geology) | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T07:22:00.828531+00:00 | kb-cron |
== Importance == Joints are important not only in understanding the local and regional geology and geomorphology but also in developing natural resources, in the safe design of structures, and in environmental protection. Joints have a profound control on weathering and erosion of bedrock. As a result, they exert a strong control on how topography and morphology of landscapes develop. Understanding the local and regional distribution, physical character, and origin of joints is a significant part of understanding the geology and geomorphology of an area. Joints often impart a well-develop fracture-induced permeability to bedrock. As a result, joints strongly influence, even control, the natural circulation (hydrogeology) of fluids, e.g. groundwater and pollutants within aquifers, petroleum in reservoirs, and hydrothermal circulation at depth, within bedrock. Thus, joints are important to the economic and safe development of petroleum, hydrothermal, and groundwater resources and the subject of intensive research relative to these resources. Regional and local joint systems exert a strong control on how ore-forming hydrothermal fluids (consisting largely of H2O, CO2, and NaCl — which formed most of Earth's ore deposits) circulated within its crust. As a result, understanding their genesis, structure, chronology, and distribution is an important part of finding and profitably developing ore deposits. Finally, joints often form discontinuities that may have a large influence on the mechanical behavior (strength, deformation, etc.) of soil and rock masses in, for example, tunnel, foundation, or slope construction. As a result, joints are an important part of geotechnical engineering in practice and research.
== Image gallery ==
== See also == Basalt fan structure – Formation of columnar jointed igneous rock Exfoliating granite – Granite spalling in superficial layers due to tempearature cycles Tessellated pavement – Flat rock surface subdivided by fractures
== References ==
== External links ==
Aydin, A., and J. Zhong (nda) Non-orthogonal Joint Sets, Multiple Joint Sets, Rock Fracture Knowledgebase, Stanford University, Stanford, California. Aydin, A., and J. Zhong (ndb) Orthogonal Joint Sets, Multiple Joint Sets, Rock Fracture Knowledgebase, Stanford University, Stanford, California. Aydin, A., and J. Zhong (ndb) Patterns of Multiple Joint Sets, Multiple Joint Sets, Rock Fracture Knowledgebase, Stanford University, Stanford, California.