Tectonics

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This article is about the geologic usage. For the philosophical or architectural usage, see Architectonics
(disambiguation).

"Tectonic" redirects here. For the dance tecktonik, see Electro dance. For the electronic music label, see
Tectonic (record label).

For the journal, see Tectonics (journal).

Tectonics (from Latin tectonicus; from Ancient Greek τεκτονικός (tektonikos), meaning
'pertaining to building'[1]) is the process that controls the structure and properties of the Earth's
crust and its evolution through time. In particular, it describes 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 provides 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
o 1.1 Extensional tectonics
 o 1.2 Thrust (contractional) tectonics
o 1.3 Strike-slip tectonics
 2 Plate tectonics
 3 Other fields of tectonic studies
o 3.1 Salt tectonics
o 3.2 Neotectonics
o 3.3 Tectonophysics
o 3.4 Seismotectonics
o 3.5 Planetary tectonics
 4 See also
 5 References
 6 Further reading
 7 External links

Main types of tectonic regime

Extensional tectonics

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

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
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
Main article: Plate tectonics

In plate tectonics the outermost part of the Earth – the crust and uppermost mantle – are viewed
as acting as a single mechanical layer, the lithosphere. 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 form the largest structural discontinuities in
the lithosphere and 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, either directly or indirectly.

Other fields of tectonic studies

Salt tectonics

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

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

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

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.

Planetary tectonics

Techniques used in the analysis of tectonics on Earth have also been applied to the study of the planets
and their moons.