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Anticline identification and geology

A fold in layered rock in which the strata dip away from the fold axis on both sides, forming an arch-like shape. In an anticline that has not been overturned, the oldest rocks are found in the core. Anticlines are important in petroleum geology because their geometry can trap migrating hydrocarbons in the crest of the fold, forming structural traps. Field: structural geology. Example: The Turner Valley anticline in Alberta was one of the first major oil-producing structures in western Canada, with hydrocarbons trapped in the crest of the folded Mississippian limestone.. Related terms: Syncline, Fold axis, Structural trap, Plunge.

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Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:41.970235+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Anticline mean in geology?
A fold in layered rock in which the strata dip away from the fold axis on both sides, forming an arch-like shape. In an anticline that has not been overturned, the oldest rocks are found in the core. Anticlines are important in petroleum geology because their geometry can trap migrating hydrocarbons in the crest of the fold, forming structural traps.
What is an example of Anticline?
The Turner Valley anticline in Alberta was one of the first major oil-producing structures in western Canada, with hydrocarbons trapped in the crest of the folded Mississippian limestone.
Which earth-science field uses the term Anticline?
Anticline is used in structural geology.
Which terms are related to Anticline?
Related terms in this reference are Syncline, Fold axis, Structural trap, Plunge.

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