Tectonics (from Latintectonicus; from Ancient Greekτεκτονικός (tektonikós) 'pertaining to building')[1] are the processes that control the structure and properties of the Earth's crust and its evolution through time. These include the processes of mountain building, the growth and behavior of the strong, old cores of continents known as cratons, and the ways in which the relatively rigid plates that constitute the Earth's outer shell interact with each other. Tectonics also provide a framework for understanding the earthquake and volcanic belts that directly affect much of the global population.
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.
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.
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.
In plate tectonics, the outermost part of the Earth known as the lithosphere (the crust and uppermost mantle) act as a single mechanical layer. The lithosphere is divided into separate "plates" that move relative to each other on the underlying, relatively weak asthenosphere in a process ultimately driven by the continuous loss of heat from the Earth's interior. There are three main types of plate boundaries: divergent, where plates move apart from each other and new lithosphere is formed in the process of sea-floor spreading; transform, where plates slide past each other, and convergent, where plates converge and lithosphere is "consumed" by the process of subduction. Convergent and transform boundaries are responsible for most of the world's major (Mw > 7) earthquakes. Convergent and divergent boundaries are also the site of most of the world's volcanoes, such as around the Pacific Ring of Fire. Most of the deformation in the lithosphere is related to the interaction between plates at or near plate boundaries.
Salt tectonics is concerned with the structural geometries and deformation processes associated with the presence of significant thicknesses of rock salt within a sequence of rocks. This is due both to the low density of salt, which does not increase with burial, and its low strength.
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.[2] 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.
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.
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.
Impact tectonics
Impact tectonics is the study of modification of the lithosphere through high velocity impact cratering events.[3]
Planetary tectonics
Techniques used in the analysis of tectonics on Earth have also been applied to the study of the planets and their moons.
Edward A. Keller (2001) Active Tectonics: Earthquakes, Uplift, and Landscape Prentice Hall; 2nd edition, ISBN0-13-088230-5
Stanley A. Schumm, Jean F. Dumont and John M. Holbrook (2002) Active Tectonics and Alluvial Rivers, Cambridge University Press; Reprint edition, ISBN0-521-89058-6
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. ISBN0-393-92467-X.
External links
The Origin and the Mechanics of the Forces Responsible for Tectonic Plate Movements
The Paleomap Project
February 04, 2023
tectonics, this, article, about, geologic, usage, philosophical, architectural, usage, architectonics, disambiguation, tectonic, redirects, here, confused, with, tecktonik, dance, tectonic, record, label, journal, from, latin, tectonicus, from, ancient, greek,. This article is about the geologic usage For the philosophical or architectural usage see Architectonics disambiguation Tectonic redirects here Not to be confused with Tecktonik dance Tectonic record label or Tectonics journal Tectonics from Latin tectonicus from Ancient Greek tektonikos tektonikos pertaining to building 1 are the processes that control the structure and properties of the Earth s crust and its evolution through time These include the processes of mountain building the growth and behavior of the strong old cores of continents known as cratons and the ways in which the relatively rigid plates that constitute the Earth s outer shell interact with each other Tectonics also provide a framework for understanding the earthquake and volcanic belts that directly affect much of the global population Tectonic studies are important as guides for economic geologists searching for fossil fuels and ore deposits of metallic and nonmetallic resources An understanding of tectonic principles is essential to geomorphologists to explain erosion patterns and other Earth surface features Contents 1 Main types of tectonic regime 1 1 Extensional tectonics 1 2 Thrust contractional tectonics 1 3 Strike slip tectonics 2 Plate tectonics 3 Other fields of tectonic studies 3 1 Salt tectonics 3 2 Neotectonics 3 3 Tectonophysics 3 4 Seismotectonics 3 5 Impact tectonics 3 6 Planetary tectonics 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksMain types of tectonic regime EditExtensional tectonics Edit Main article 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 Thrust contractional tectonics Edit Main article Thrust 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 Strike slip tectonics Edit San Andreas transform fault on the Carrizo Plain Main article 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 Plate tectonics EditMain article Plate tectonics In plate tectonics the outermost part of the Earth known as the lithosphere the crust and uppermost mantle act as a single mechanical layer The lithosphere is divided into separate plates that move relative to each other on the underlying relatively weak asthenosphere in a process ultimately driven by the continuous loss of heat from the Earth s interior There are three main types of plate boundaries divergent where plates move apart from each other and new lithosphere is formed in the process of sea floor spreading transform where plates slide past each other and convergent where plates converge and lithosphere is consumed by the process of subduction Convergent and transform boundaries are responsible for most of the world s major Mw gt 7 earthquakes Convergent and divergent boundaries are also the site of most of the world s volcanoes such as around the Pacific Ring of Fire Most of the deformation in the lithosphere is related to the interaction between plates at or near plate boundaries Other fields of tectonic studies EditSalt tectonics Edit Main article Salt tectonics Salt tectonics is concerned with the structural geometries and deformation processes associated with the presence of significant thicknesses of rock salt within a sequence of rocks This is due both to the low density of salt which does not increase with burial and its low strength Neotectonics Edit Main article 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 2 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 Tectonophysics Edit Main article 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 Seismotectonics Edit Main article 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 Impact tectonics Edit Impact tectonics is the study of modification of the lithosphere through high velocity impact cratering events 3 Planetary tectonics Edit Techniques used in the analysis of tectonics on Earth have also been applied to the study of the planets and their moons See also Edit Geology portalTectonophysics Seismology UNESCO world heritage site Glarus Thrust Volcanology Mohorovicic discontinuityReferences Edit Harper Douglas tectonic Online Etymology Dictionary Encyclopedia of Coastal Science 2005 Springer ISBN 978 1 4020 1903 6 Chapter 1 Tectonics and Neotectonics doi 10 1007 1 4020 3880 1 Koeberl C Henkel H eds 2005 Impact Tectonics Impact Studies Springer Berlin Heidelberg doi 10 1007 3 540 27548 7 ISBN 978 3 540 24181 2 Further reading EditEdward 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 External links EditThe Origin and the Mechanics of the Forces Responsible for Tectonic Plate Movements The Paleomap Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tectonics amp oldid 1137315847, 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