GEOL 1330 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Transform Fault, Modelling Clay, Convergent Boundary

• School: University of Houston
• Department: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Course: GEOL 1330
• Professor: Daniel Hauptvogel

Document Summary

All rocks have the potential to deform by bending (elastic or ductile) or breaking (brittle) Tensional stress pulls apart or stretches rock. Shear stress movement of one rock past another. Brittle deformation is when rocks break due to stress. Ductile deformation is a permanent change in rock shape, like molding clay. Typically along planes of foliation or bedding surfaces. Elastic deformation is recoverable, like a rubber band snapping back to its original shape. Factors that affect the strength of a rock. Pressure high pressures tend to bend rocks. Rock type strength of bonds holding rock together. Brittle minerals have very strong bonds, crystalline rocks. Ductile minerals have weak bonds, sedimentary rocks. Time how long the rock is subjected to stress. Long time usually leads to ductile. Short time usually leads to brittle. Along convergent boundaries, rocks are often bent to form folds.