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Most earthquakes occur near faults because the interaction of tectonic plates (moving against or away from each other) causes a buildup of stress, which is eventually released in the form of an earthquake.

Earthquakes don't necessarily occur along faults though. Volcanic activity and isostatic imbalance (local imbalance from rapid geologic change - for example, ice melting) are two other causes of earthquakes.

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16y ago

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Related Questions

Do earthquakes occur mostly near faults lines?

yes they always do, if you go onto the website wikipedia it can tell you all about it!


Do earthquakes mostly occur at faults that are away from plate boundaries?

False. Earthquakes mostly occur along faults that are at or very near to plate boundaries.


Which is used to determine earthquakes risk?

Strains in rocks near faults


Do earthquakes often occur at at faults that are away from plate boundaries?

Yes, but not as often as earthquakes happen near plate boundaries


Why do earthquake are always near fault?

Earthquakes occur near faults because faults are zones where the Earth's tectonic plates interact and cause stress to build up. When this stress is released suddenly, it causes an earthquake. Faults are essentially the boundaries where the plates can move past each other, resulting in seismic activity.


What is the relationship between the locations of volcanoes and earthquakes with regard to faults?

Volcanoes and earthquakes are often found along tectonic plate boundaries where there are faults. In the case of volcanoes, they can form at subduction zones where one tectonic plate is being forced below another. Earthquakes occur along faults, which are fractures in the Earth's crust where tectonic plates move past each other.


How faults produce earthquakes?

Faults DO NOT produce earthquakes, faults are produced by earthquakes. This means that earthquake loci are centered on and along faults. The energy released by an earthquake is the stress energy built up as a result of plate tectonic forces.


What are faults caused by?

earthquakes


What are earthquakes associated with?

Faults


Why do scientists think that an earthquake will occur at the San Andrea's fault?

Because it is a fault and earthquakes usually occur near faults.


When Most earthquakes happen?

near subduction zones


What are the actions of the faults?

Faults can create cracks in the earth and cause earthquakes.