Slickensides are polished rock surfaces caused by fault movements when two
rock masses move against on another. They are not 'explosive" themselves but
their presence in underground mines, because they were, and maybe still,
planes of weakness between two rock masses, may cause "rock bursts" when
mining of stopes or galleries approaches them. Such "rock bursts" although
due to sudden release of rock pressure(strain) appear to be explosive to
anyone in their vicinity and can cause fatalities.
Peter Siems.
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