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Most earthquakes occur along the boundaries between tectonic plates due to the motion of part of one plate being blocked by another until the pressure or stress becomes too great to be restricted any longer and the previously blocked portion lurches forward.

Tectonic plate boundaries are not the only places where earthquakes occur. They can happen in the middle of a tectonic plate. A good example is the New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-1812 in what is now Missouri, USA.

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In what area of the world are Earthquakes most common?

Earthquakes are most common where plates of the crusts collide or separate and especially in the Pacific ring of fire. The pacific ring of fire is a chain of volcanoes and earthquakes along the edges of the Pacific ocean.


What are the three types of earhquakes?

The three types of earthquakes are tectonic earthquakes, volcanic earthquakes, and collapse earthquakes. Tectonic earthquakes are the most common and are caused by the movement of earth's plates. Volcanic earthquakes occur in association with volcanic activity, while collapse earthquakes happen in underground mines and caverns.


Which is the most common tectonic or volcanic earthquakes?

Tectonic earthquakes are more common than volcanic earthquakes. Tectonic earthquakes are caused by the shifting and breaking of rocks in the Earth's crust along tectonic plate boundaries, whereas volcanic earthquakes are associated with volcanic activity and occur as magma moves beneath the surface.


In which area of the world is the earthquakes most common?

Earthquakes are most common in areas along tectonic plate boundaries, such as the Pacific Ring of Fire which includes the west coasts of North and South America, Japan, and Southeast Asia. These regions have a higher frequency of seismic activity due to the movement of tectonic plates.


What state do most earthquakes occur in?

Earthquakes can occur in any state, but California experiences the most earthquakes due to its location along the San Andreas Fault. Other states with a higher frequency of earthquakes include Alaska, Nevada, and Oklahoma.