GEOL 106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Fault Scarp, Elastic Energy, Epicenter

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering
• Course: GEOL 106
• Professor: John Hanes

Document Summary

Elastic rebound theory: the ridged part of the earth can store elastic energy. When it breaks, the elastic energy is released. Fault: a break/crack in rocks along which there has been appreciable displacement. Therefore, earthquakes are associated with faults: earthquakes happen when either (a) a fault forms or (b) there is an episode of movement on a pre-existing fault. In both cases, stored energy is released! Reverse dip-slip fault: strike-slip fault, large earthquakes can be associated with any of the 3 fault types but the biggest are associated with reverse dip slip faults (think of two cars colliding) Note: many rivers occur along faults -> because the broken up rocks can be more easily washed away. Focus: the point source of energy release on the fault. Epicenter: the point at the earth"s surface that is directly above the focus. The epicenter is the closest place at earth"s surface to the focus!