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Transform Plate Boundaries


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Teaching Plate Tectonics Earth's Internal Structure Divergent Boundary
Convergent Boundary Transform Boundary Tectonic Features Map

Transform Plate Boundaries are locations where two plates slide past one another. The fracture zone that forms a transform plate boundary is known as a transform fault. Most transform faults are found in the ocean basin and connect offsets in the mid-ocean ridges. A smaller number connect mid-ocean ridges and subduction zones.

Transform Plate Boundary


A Strike-Slip Fault is NOT a Transform Fault

Strike-slip fault vs transform-fault


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Transform faults can be distinguished from the typical strike-slip faults because the sense of movement is in the opposite direction (see illustration). A strike-slip fault is a simple offset; however, a transform fault is formed between two different plates, each moving away from the spreading center of a divergent plate boundary. When you look at the transform fault diagram, imagine the double line as a divergent plate boundary and visualize which way the diverging plates would be moving.

A smaller number of transform faults cut continental lithosphere. The most famous example of this is the San Andreas Fault Zone of western North America. The San Andreas connects a divergent boundary in the Gulf of California with the Cascadia subduction zone. Another example of a transform boundary on land is the Alpine Fault of New Zealand. Both the San Andreas Fault and the Alpine Fault are shown on our Interactive Plate Tectonics Map.

Contributor:
Publisher, Geology.com

Teaching
Plate
Tectonics
Teaching Plate Tectonics Earth's Internal Structure Divergent Boundary
Convergent Boundary Transform Boundary Tectonic Features Map


More Plate Tectonics
  Teaching Plate Tectonics
  Plate Tectonics Map
  What Is The Moho?
  The East Africa Rift System
  What is the San Andreas Fault?
  Gifts That Rock
  What Causes a Tsunami?
  The Japan Earthquake

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