Transform fault

A transform fault is a concept of plate tectonics. This means that faults or fault zones are referred to, where the tectonic plates slide past one another laterally. The movement itself is called a strike-slip fault.

Formation

At a transform fault slip two lithospheric plates, or two plate parts, along its borders horizontally past each other. This process is known in geology as a material- neutral, since no Erdkrustenmaterial is formed or destroyed. However, this movement is not frictionless. The plates hook into one another, until the date on which the pent-up pressure is too large and the accumulated energy is discharged abruptly in a shallow earthquake. For this reason, areas near transform faults are highly prone to earthquakes.

Dissemination

Transform faults can be observed along plate boundaries on the mainland, but also on the ocean floor. Known major faults are, for example, the Californian San Andreas Fault and the North Anatolian Fault.

Oceanic plate boundaries

The most common type of oceanic transform faults are, so to find on the ocean floor, and divide into segments mid-ocean ridges. They cut through the back mostly perpendicular with respect to the strike direction. The disturbances constitute neither an uninterrupted straight line, nor do they spread out in a constant speed. Rather occur irregular dislocations. Move whole sections of the spine perpendicular to the spreading zone to the left or right and therefore are only due to the transform faults to one another.

In the forming columns of the sea water comes in contact with the hotter layers of rock, so often hydrothermal fields arise due to errors with black smokers.

Continental plate boundaries

Better known examples can be found on the continents where people are threatened by the resulting earthquake. There, the structure of such interference is often more complex, because the layering of the rock on either side of the fault, and these different layers of rock mechanically respond differently to the external voltage. These complex regions therefore often bear the name Transform zones. On the external voltage variation disorders react with earthquakes, which open more gaps and crevices.

Types

There are three basic types of transformants fraction,

The more specific on six types be extended: