2006-06-23 14:30:48 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
What Is It?
Scientists have learned that the Earth's crust is fractured into a series of "plates" that have been moving very slowly over the Earth's surface for millions of years. Two of these moving plates meet in western California; the boundary between them is the San Andreas fault. The Pacific Plate (on the west) moves northwestward relative to the North American Plate (on the east), causing earthquakes along the fault. The San Andreas is the "master" fault of an intricate fault network that cuts through rocks of the California coastal region. The entire San Andreas fault system is more than 800 miles long and extends to depths of at least 10 miles within the Earth. In detail, the fault is a complex zone of crushed and broken rock from a few hundred feet to a mile wide. Many smaller faults branch from and join the San Andreas fault zone. Almost any road cut in the zone shows a myriad of small fractures, fault gouge (pulverized rock), and a few solid pieces of rock.
2006-06-23 14:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by gimmieswag 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
A crack in the earth known as a strinke-slip fault these move horizontaly and if you stood on 1 side it would seem the other side was up more!Th eplats and colided exept they didnt over lap they move together pushing on 1 another and moving alond each other, never moving under or over the other plate boundrie! Hope it helped i am only 14!
2006-06-23 18:39:21 · answer #2 · answered by Booboo B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
plate techtonics are large masses just below the earth top crust they are broken into large sections. as the section move and shift where their edges meet they will get caught on each others edges, causing great enertia(or force if you will) to build up,when thay break free of each other an earth quake results.san andreas fault is a fault line,or extended crevass above the area where these plates meet.
2006-06-23 14:40:26 · answer #3 · answered by charleybgoode 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The San Andreas fault is a big earthquake fault in California. People who live near it are vulnerable to big earthquakes which could destroy their houses and kill them if they're unlucky.
2006-06-23 14:34:57 · answer #4 · answered by x4294967296 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They the dividing lines between the two tectonic plates that shift and move causing earthquakes. Each one moves the opposite way causing seismic activity.
2006-06-23 14:35:04 · answer #5 · answered by soniaatcalifornia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a fault line, which separates part of CA from the united states mainland. the south and western part of CA is on the pacific plate, and slowly moving north-northwest.
2006-06-23 14:55:48 · answer #6 · answered by blahblahblah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a line that ppl say will split when there is a big earthquake, and California will fall into the ocean.
2006-06-23 14:32:38 · answer #7 · answered by nemraC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a split that seperates California from the rest of the U.S.
2006-06-23 14:34:38 · answer #8 · answered by robertholmes_period1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
crack in the world...nah just a huge faultline in california, where earthquakes start...they say the big one will dettach ca from the world
2006-06-23 14:33:11 · answer #9 · answered by cassiepiehoney 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
california
2006-06-24 12:56:20 · answer #10 · answered by hotmale572000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋