Geometrie analysis and scaling properties of calcite e-twins in the Cameros Basin (NW Iberian Chain, Spain)

Abstract

One dimensional geometric analysis has been carried out in several scan lines from 885 measures of twins in calcite grains to determine grain width (in microns) and twin density (number of twins.mm-1 ) distributions. Grain width and twin density have a good fit to the log-normal frequency distribution. Twinning in calcite implies intracrystaline deformation mechanism with low shear stress. When the process begins low grain width and calcite twins are developed with a probably random distribution what could be supported by a negative exponential distribution tendency. The twinning process continues until a "critical" value of grain width and density which is going to influence in the scaling process, and becoming the distribution to log-normal type. But some data also conform to a power-law (fractal) frequency distribution from determined range or sizes (300 to WOO mm) and density (2 to W twins.mm-1) with some superimposed random (negative-exponential) elements, possible due to the irregularities at grain scale, but also because this systems show multifractal behavior.