Science Common Sense


1816 - How do joints, folds, and fractures reflect the effects of tectonic forces on rock layers.

Imagine the Earth's crust is like a big puzzle made of rock layers. When tectonic forces (like movings plates) act on these layers, they can cause three main things to happen:

  1. Joints: These are like cracks in the rocks. Imagine you're trying to stretch or squeeze a big piece of clay. If the clay gets stretched too much, tiny cracks start to form. That's basically what joints are.

  2. Folds: These happen when tectonic forces push and squeeze the rock layers from opposite sides. Imagine taking playdough and squeezing it from both sides - the playdough would form a bend or a wave. That's what happens when rocks get folded.

  3. Fractures: These are like big cracks that go all the way through the rock. Imagine you dropped your clay on the ground, and it broke into pieces. That's basically what happens when tectonic forces cause a fracture.

So, when we see joints, folds, and fractures in rock layers, it's like looking at a record of how the Earth's tectonic forces have acted on those rocks over time.