What happens when jagged edges of rocks plates grinds past each other
When the jagged edges of rock plates grind past each other, it can result in a geological phenomenon called faulting. Faulting occurs along the boundaries where tectonic plates meet, and the friction and pressure between the plates cause them to lock in place. As stress builds up, the rocks deform and eventually release the accumulated energy in the form of an earthquake.
During an earthquake, the jagged edges of the rock plates scrape and slide against each other. The friction between the rocks generates intense heat, causing the rocks to melt and create a molten frictional material called pseudotachylyte. This molten material can coat the fault surfaces and act as a lubricant, allowing the rocks to slide past each other more easily.
The grinding of rock plates can also result in the formation of various types of faults, such as normal faults, reverse faults, and strike-slip faults. These faults have different orientations and movements, with normal faults involving vertical displacement, reverse faults involving horizontal compression, and strike-slip faults involving horizontal displacement.
The grinding and sliding of rock plates during faulting can have significant consequences. In addition to generating earthquakes, faulting can lead to the uplift or subsidence of land, the formation of mountains and valleys, and the creation of various geological features. It also plays a crucial role in the movement and reshaping of Earth's tectonic plates.