Formation and

Distribution of
Earthquakes
 Lesson Objectives
• Explain how earthquakes are formed
• Describe the parts of an Earthquake
• State the difference between foreshocks
and aftershocks.
• Outline how the magnitude of an
Earthquake is measured.
• Describe the types of Faults
What are Earthquakes and how
are they formed?
• An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip
on a fault.
• The tectonic plates are always slowly
moving, but they get stuck at their edges
due to friction.
What are Earthquakes and how
are they formed?
• When the stress on the edge overcomes
the friction, there is an earthquake that
releases energy in waves that travel
through the earth's crust and cause the
shaking that we feel.
 Parts of an Earthquake

The point at the surface of the

Earth above the focus

A fracture in the rocks that

make up the Earth’s crust

The point within the Earth

where an earthquake rupture
Waves that transmit the energy starts
released by an earthquake
 Energy released from an
Earthquake
• The energy of an earthquake is described
as the magnitude.
• Magnitude is measured using the Richter
Scale.
• Generally, the impact of an earthquake is
reduced with distance from the epicentre.
The Richter Scale
 Quick Fact!!!

Ea c h M a g nit ud e is 10
TI M ES ST RONGER
than the previous
Caribbean Earthquakes and
Magnitudes
 Foreshocks and Aftershocks
• Large earthquakes are usually followed by
hundreds and even thousands of smaller
earthquakes, called aftershocks.
• In some earthquake sequences, a smaller
earthquake called a “foreshock”, precedes
the mainshock.
 Faulting
• Faulting deep below the surface can
cause earthquakes which in turn can
cause rocks above to fracture along a line
known as a fault.
 Types of Faults
• Normal Fault are
created when
rocks are pulled
apart by tension.
• An escarpment can
be formed along
this fault line
 Types of Faults
• Reverse faults are
created when
rocks are pushed
together by
compression.
 Types of Faults
• Transform (tear)
fault occurs where
rocks are pushed
passed each other
in a horizontal
direction.
 Horst and Graben
• Where faulting is complex, large blocks of
rocks can be pushed up to create a block
mountain called a horst, or push down to
create a rift valley or graben.
• Long Mountain in Jamaica is an example
of a Horst.
Horst and Graben
Takutu in Guyana is an example
of a Graben