The earth is a dynamic planet. Everything that is in it experiences changes whether they be extreme or not. Some of the changes that occur in our home planet happen deep within it, just right beneath our feet. We do not immediately notice the changes, not unless they become violent. And this process has continued and will continue for many years, until the very last days of the earth.
One of the changes that is constantly happening in our planet is rock deformation. This is a change in the geometrical features of rocks. This alteration is caused by the stress and strain experienced by the rocks. Due to these actions, the rocks undergo certain transformations that result in their being bent or folded . Literally, these bends in the earth are called folds.
There are three types of deformation elastic, viscous, and ductile. When stress is applied on rocks, although there are changes in its geometrical feature, its form returns once the stress is removed. This deformation is called elastic. On the other hand, if the change is irreversible, then it is called viscous. Brittle deformation occurs when the rocks break due to the stress.
As mentioned earlier, deformation is caused by stress and strain. To elaborate further, strain is similar to deformation, while stress is the force applied on a certain area or material, in this case rocks. There are three types of stress tensional, compressional and shear. Tensional stress causes the rocks to stretch. Compressional stress does the opposite it squeezes the rocks together. Shear stress on the other hand pushes rocks in two different directions.
Of the three deformation types, brittle deformation is the one responsible for the generation of earthquakes. This is because faults, which are results of the fracturing of plates or of the said deformation, are the primary origins of earthquakes.
Just like deformation and stress, faults also have types. The first one is normal. The stress acting on the plates is tension. This action causes a rock block to move down relative to the other block. The second type is called reverse. In this type, compression is the one acting one the rocks. One block of rock moves up relative to another in this type of fault. The third type is the thrust fault. In this fault, the stress acting on the plates is compression and the movement of the plates causes one rock block to slide over another. The last type is called lateral. Shearing stress is involved in this type, and in this one, the blocks or rock move horizontally past each other.
Essentially, the fault types are narrowed down into two normal and transform. The transform fault encompasses the grinding, sliding and shearing of rocks, which are the characteristics of the last three mentioned fault types. Transform faults occur at the plate boundaries where the massive land formations clash and move past each other. These actions causes the formation of mountain ranges and the generation of earthquakes as well. Normal faulting, on the other hand, occurs somewhere inland, and results in the formation of basins and mountain ranges.
The earth is a dynamic planet that is constantly experiencing changes both in its interior and exterior. These changes are not that easily noticed, not unless they are violent in nature. One fascinating transformation that happens in our planet lies deep within the solid foundation of our planet. And this process will continue to occur, just like what it has been doing for the past billion years.
One of the changes that is constantly happening in our planet is rock deformation. This is a change in the geometrical features of rocks. This alteration is caused by the stress and strain experienced by the rocks. Due to these actions, the rocks undergo certain transformations that result in their being bent or folded . Literally, these bends in the earth are called folds.
There are three types of deformation elastic, viscous, and ductile. When stress is applied on rocks, although there are changes in its geometrical feature, its form returns once the stress is removed. This deformation is called elastic. On the other hand, if the change is irreversible, then it is called viscous. Brittle deformation occurs when the rocks break due to the stress.
As mentioned earlier, deformation is caused by stress and strain. To elaborate further, strain is similar to deformation, while stress is the force applied on a certain area or material, in this case rocks. There are three types of stress tensional, compressional and shear. Tensional stress causes the rocks to stretch. Compressional stress does the opposite it squeezes the rocks together. Shear stress on the other hand pushes rocks in two different directions.
Of the three deformation types, brittle deformation is the one responsible for the generation of earthquakes. This is because faults, which are results of the fracturing of plates or of the said deformation, are the primary origins of earthquakes.
Just like deformation and stress, faults also have types. The first one is normal. The stress acting on the plates is tension. This action causes a rock block to move down relative to the other block. The second type is called reverse. In this type, compression is the one acting one the rocks. One block of rock moves up relative to another in this type of fault. The third type is the thrust fault. In this fault, the stress acting on the plates is compression and the movement of the plates causes one rock block to slide over another. The last type is called lateral. Shearing stress is involved in this type, and in this one, the blocks or rock move horizontally past each other.
Essentially, the fault types are narrowed down into two normal and transform. The transform fault encompasses the grinding, sliding and shearing of rocks, which are the characteristics of the last three mentioned fault types. Transform faults occur at the plate boundaries where the massive land formations clash and move past each other. These actions causes the formation of mountain ranges and the generation of earthquakes as well. Normal faulting, on the other hand, occurs somewhere inland, and results in the formation of basins and mountain ranges.
The earth is a dynamic planet that is constantly experiencing changes both in its interior and exterior. These changes are not that easily noticed, not unless they are violent in nature. One fascinating transformation that happens in our planet lies deep within the solid foundation of our planet. And this process will continue to occur, just like what it has been doing for the past billion years.
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