Contents of 11.7 How do earthquakes relate to rock deformation?

11.7 How do earthquakes relate to rock deformation?

Earthquakes result from motion along faults. Earthquakes represent brittle failure of rock and hence occur in the upper crust where temperature and pressure are relatively low.
Not all motion on faults produces earthquakes; rocks can creep along faults if the fault is too weak to store up the energy of prolonged stress.
Elastic rebound theory explains deformation before and during earthquakes as brittle failure following accumulation of elastic strain. Bending rocks on either side of a locked fault store energy that releases as earthquakes when it exceeds rock strength.
Foreshocks and aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that occur before and after the main earthquake.