Mountain Building Folding and Faulting

Stress in the Crust Stress from plate motions causes crustal rocks to deform –Rocks near the surface are cool and rigid. They will tend to fault (break) –Rocks deeper within the Earth are warm and more ductile. They will tend to fold (bend)

Stress Directions The pressure that causes plate motions is in horizontal directions Therefore, STRESS within the rocks must also be horizontal

Stress Directions Compression   –Rocks are being squeezed –Result is ‘shortening’ Tension   –Rocks are being stretched –Result is ‘lengthening Shear ⇄ –Rocks move in opposite directions and are distorted

Folds Occur deep within earth where rocks are ductile. Horizontal stress will cause rocks to bend upwards or downwards. Folds are usually caused by compressional stress. All folds contain an axial plane and limbs.

Anticline Limbs point down on either side of the axis Oldest rock is in the center of the fold L i m b L i m b Stress

Syncline Limbs point up on either side of the axis Youngest rock is in the center of the fold L i m b L i m b Stress

Faults Occur near the surface where rocks are cool and brittle. Stress causes the rocks to ‘strain’ and break. Movement (up or down) must occur along either side of the fault. Stress that creates faults can be compressional, tensional, or shear.

Parts of a fault Fault Plane – the plane where movement occurs Hanging Wall – Above the fault plane Footwall – Below the fault plane

Normal Fault Tensional Stress Hanging wall moves down Results in extension of crust Hanging Wall Foot Wall Stress

Reverse Fault Hanging Wall Foot Wall Stress Compressional Stress Hanging wall moves up Results in shortening of the crust