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Earth's System: Force of the Earth: Volcanoes and Earthquakes
Faults
Description
Faults
A fault is a break in Earth's crust where rocks move past each other due to tectonic forces. These movements can cause earthquakes, land shifts, and the formation of mountains and valleys. Faults are classified into three main types based on how the rocks move:
- Normal Faults – Formed by tension (rocks pul...
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Transcript
When stress builds up in Earth's crust, rocks can break, forming fractures called faults. Faults occur when rocks on either side of the break move.
If there is no movement along the break, it is called a joint, like the cracks found in cooled basalt rocks.
Faults are classified by the type of movement between rocks. There are three m...
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