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Syncline

Geological fold

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In structural geology, a syncline is a fold with younger rock layers closer to the center of the structure, whereas an anticline is the inverse of a syncline. Illustrated are a folded sequence of rock
Fabio Crameri · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Characteristics

On a geologic map, synclines are recognized as a sequence of rock layers, with the youngest at the fold's center or hinge and with a reverse sequence of the same rock layers on the opposite side of the hinge. If the fold pattern is circular or elongate, the structure is a basin. Folds typically form during crustal deformation as the result of compression that accompanies orogenic mountain building.

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