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Difficulty: MediumEarth's Interior and Plate Tectonics

At a transform plate boundary, two tectonic plates slide horizontally past one another. Which of the following geological events or features is most characteristic of this specific boundary type?

  1. A
    Creation of new oceanic crust along active spreading centers
  2. Frequent, shallow-focus earthquakes with little to no volcanic activityAnswer
  3. C
    Formation of deep oceanic trenches where one plate descends
  4. D
    Development of curved volcanic island arcs from melting subducted crust

Answer

Frequent, shallow-focus earthquakes with little to no volcanic activity
Transform boundaries feature tectonic plates sliding past one another horizontally. The intense friction along the irregular fault surfaces causes plates to lock, accumulating shear strain until it suddenly releases as shallow-focus earthquakes. Because crust is neither subducted to melt nor pulled apart to allow mantle upwelling, volcanic activity is typically absent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the relative plate motion at a transform boundary.
Plates slide horizontally past each other along vertical strike-slip faults rather than colliding or pulling apart.
Determines the mechanical stress regime operating on the boundary.
2
Evaluate whether crust is created or recycled during horizontal sliding.
Lithospheric crust is neither generated nor subducted into the mantle.
Explains why magma generation and volcanic structures are absent.
3
Determine the seismic outcome of horizontal plate friction.
Frictional resistance locks the fault until built-up shear stress suddenly releases as shallow-focus earthquakes.
Directly identifies the primary geophysical feature associated with transform boundaries.

Key Concept

Transform plate boundary motion and associated seismic phenomena
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Earth's Interior and Plate Tectonics

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