- (D) In (A) activity is low, and it occurs at very shallow depths. The point is
that the lithosphere is very thin and weak at these boundaries, so the strain
cannot build up enough to cause large earthquakes. The San Andreas fault is
a good example of (B) in which two mature plates are scraping by one
another. The friction between the plates can be so great that very large
strains can build up before they are periodically relieved by large
earthquakes. In (C) one plate is thrust or subducted under the other plate so
that a deep ocean trench is produced. In (E) shallow earthquakes are
associated with high mountain ranges where intense compression is taking
place. In (D) the interiors of the plates themselves are largely free of large
earthquakes, that is, they are aseismic.
marvins-underground-k-12
(Marvins-Underground-K-12)
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