HKDSE Geography/M1/Conservative Plate Boundaries

In a conservative plate boundary, no plate materials are constructed or destroyed. Transform faults are found here. Vulcanicity is rare as less magma rises along lines of weakness to the earth's surface. However, earthquakes are very common.

San Andreas Fault (Pacific + N American)
It is located at California.
 * 1) The Pacific Plate slides past the North American Plate in a north-westward direction.
 * 2) Sheer stress builds up along the plate boundary.
 * 3) Eventually, stress caused the plates to fracture, producing a transform fault along the conservative plate boundary. The plates neither subduct nor spread at the transform zone.

As the plates slide past each other, friction creates large strains along the transform zone. When the stress caused by plate movements exceeds the friction, an earthquake occurs.

Transform Fault between African and Arabian Plates

 * 1) The Arabian Plate slides past the African Plate in a northward direction.
 * 2) Sheer stress builds up along the plate boundary.
 * 3) Eventually, the stress caused the plates to fracture. producing a transform fault along the conservative plate boundary. The plates neither subduct nor spread at the transform zone.
 * 4) Several gulfs and inland seas were opened up: Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea, Gulf of Aquaba

Note: a gulf is a very large bay.