ROCK STRESS

H O W R O C K S B E H AV E U N D E R
DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRESS SUCH AS
C O M P R E S S I O N , P U L L I N G A PA R T A N D
SHEARING.
 ROCK STRESS

• Rocks may undergo deformation.

• Deformation- refers to the
change in the original shape and
size of a rock.
• The deformation is caused by
tectonic forces.
 ROCK STRESS

• There are three types of tectonic

forces that can deform rock.
• The type of deformation (strain)
experienced by a rock depends
largely on the type of tectonic
force (stress) exerted:
 ROCK STRESS

1. Compressional forces (stress)

- generate folding and faulting as
a consequence of shortening.
 These occur along convergent
plate boundaries resulting in
mountain ranges.
 ROCK STRESS

2. Tensional forces (stress) –

cause stretching and thinning of
rocks resulting in faulting.
 They are common along
extensional plate boundaries like
mid-ocean ridges.
 ROCK STRESS

3. Shearing forces (stress) –

cause rocks to slide horizontally
past one another along transform
plate boundaries, resulting to
extensive fault system.
 TECTONIC
PROCESSES
F O L D I N G A N D FA U LT I N G
 FOLDING

FOLDING OR FOLDS- occur when rocks are

pushed toward each other from opposite sides.
 produced by horizontal compressive stresses
such as continent-continent collisions or collisions
at any convergent plate boundary.
 may occur in groups and maybe large scale or
small scale.
 Types of folds
a. anticline- the upward arching fold.
b. syncline- the downward arching fold.
 FOLDING

LIMBS- the sides of a fold.

DOME- is a circular or elliptical anticline in which
the limbs dip away in all directions.
BASIN- is a circular or elliptical syncline in which
the limbs dip toward the center.
FOLDING
 FAULTING

FAULTING – is the fracturing and displacement of

brittle rock strata along a fault plane.
FAULTS – are fractures in the crust along which
displacement has occurred.
Types of Faults:
a. Dip-slip faults- occurs when the movement of
the two blocks is vertical.
Examples:
Normal fault- the hanging wall block moves
down relative to the floor wall block.
 FAULTING

Reverse fault- the hanging wall moves up relative

to the foot wall block.
 FAULTING

b. Strike-slip fault- occurs when the dominant

displacement is horizontal and parallel.
- maybe described based on their direction or
motion.
Sinistral fault- a strike-slip fault that moves in a
left-lateral motion
Dextral fault- a fault with right- lateral motion.
Transform fault- a special kind of strike-slip fault