Tectonics
Tectonics (from
These processes include those of
Tectonic studies are important as guides for
Main types of tectonic regime
Extensional tectonics
Extensional tectonics is associated with the stretching and thinning of the crust or the lithosphere. This type of tectonics is found at divergent plate boundaries, in continental rifts, during and after a period of continental collision caused by the lateral spreading of the thickened crust formed, at releasing bends in strike-slip faults, in back-arc basins, and on the continental end of passive margin sequences where a detachment layer is present.[5][6][7]
Thrust (contractional) tectonics
Thrust tectonics is associated with the shortening and thickening of the crust, or the lithosphere. This type of tectonics is found at zones of continental collision, at restraining bends in strike-slip faults, and at the oceanward part of passive margin sequences where a detachment layer is present.[8]
Strike-slip tectonics
Strike-slip tectonics is associated with the relative lateral movement of parts of the crust or the lithosphere. This type of tectonics is found along oceanic and continental transform faults which connect offset segments of mid-ocean ridges. Strike-slip tectonics also occurs at lateral offsets in extensional and thrust fault systems. In areas involved with plate collisions strike-slip deformation occurs in the over-riding plate in zones of oblique collision and accommodates deformation in the foreland to a collisional belt.[9]
Plate tectonics
In plate tectonics, the outermost part of the Earth known as the
Other fields of tectonic studies
Salt tectonics
Salt tectonics is concerned with the structural geometries and deformation processes associated with the presence of significant thicknesses of
Neotectonics
Neotectonics is the study of the motions and deformations of the Earth's crust (geological and geomorphological processes) that are current or recent in geological time. The term may also refer to the motions and deformations themselves. The corresponding time frame is referred to as the neotectonic period. Accordingly, the preceding time is referred to as palaeotectonic period.[12]
Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics is the study of the physical processes associated with deformation of the crust and mantle from the scale of individual mineral grains up to that of tectonic plates.[13]
Seismotectonics
Seismotectonics is the study of the relationship between earthquakes, active tectonics, and individual faults in a region. It seeks to understand which faults are responsible for seismic activity in an area by analysing a combination of regional tectonics, recent instrumentally recorded events, accounts of historical earthquakes, and geomorphological evidence. This information can then be used to quantify the seismic hazard of an area.[14]
Impact tectonics
Impact tectonics is the study of modification of the lithosphere through high velocity impact cratering events.[15]
Planetary tectonics
Techniques used in the analysis of tectonics on Earth have also been applied to the study of the planets and their moons.[3]
See also
- Tectonophysics
- Seismology
- UNESCO world heritage site Glarus Thrust
- Volcanology
- Mohorovičić discontinuity
References
- ^ Harper, Douglas. "tectonic". Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^
Geologists (as distinct from architects) may define tectonics as "the architecture of the Earth's crust" -
O'Hara, Kieran D. (19 April 2018). A Brief History of Geology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107176188. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
The words tectonics and architecture are derived from the same Greek root, and tectonics is defined as the architecture of the Earth's crust.
- ^ a b
The field of planetary tectonics extends the concept of tectonics to studying non-terrestrial bodies such as other planets and moons: Watters, Thomas R.; Schultz, Richard A. (2010). "Planetary tectonics: introduction". In Watters, Thomas R.; Schultz, Richard A. (eds.). Planetary Tectonics. Cambridge Planetary Science, ISSN 0265-3044 - Volume 11. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 2. ISBN 9780521765732. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
Since the 1960s, an armada of exploratory spacecraft have identified widespread evidence of tectonism on all the terrestrial planets, most of the satellites of the outer planets, and on a number of asteroids. Tectonic landforms on large and small bodies in the solar system are as ubiquitous as impact craters.
- ^
ISBN 9781444345049. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- S2CID 49553634
- S2CID 129068818.
- doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2011.03.004.)
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISBN 9780444641359.
- ^ Burg, J.-P. (2017). "Strike-slip and Oblique-slip tectonics" (PDF). Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- .
- ISBN 978-0-08-102909-1, retrieved 23 October 2023
- ISBN 9789401120166.
- ISBN 978-3-540-24181-2.
Further reading
- Edward A. Keller (2001) Active Tectonics: Earthquakes, Uplift, and Landscape Prentice Hall; 2nd edition, ISBN 0-13-088230-5
- Stanley A. Schumm, Jean F. Dumont and John M. Holbrook (2002) Active Tectonics and Alluvial Rivers, Cambridge University Press; Reprint edition, ISBN 0-521-89058-6
- B.A. van der Pluijm and S. Marshak (2004). Earth Structure – An Introduction to Structural Geology and Tectonics. 2nd edition. New York: W.W. Norton. p. 656. ISBN 0-393-92467-X. Archived from the originalon 3 May 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2008.