This article discusses the geologic usage, for the philosophical or architectural usage see: Architectonics

Or see plate tectonics. Plate tectonics (from Greek τέκτων tektōn "builder" or "mason" describes the large scale motions of Earth 's Lithosphere

World plate tectonics (click on map for more details)

Tectonics, (from the Greek for "builder", tekton), is a field of study within geology concerned generally with the structures within the crust of the Earth (or other planets) and particularly with the forces and movements that have operated in a region to create these structures. Plate tectonics (from Greek τέκτων tektōn "builder" or "mason" describes the large scale motions of Earth 's Lithosphere Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Geology (from Greek γη gê, "earth" and λόγος Logos, "speech" lit In Geology, a crust is the outermost solid shell of a planet or moon EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is

Tectonics is concerned with the orogenies and tectonic development of cratons and tectonic terranes as well as the earthquake and volcanic belts which directly affect much of the global population. Orogeny (Greek for "mountain generating" is the process of natural Mountain building and may be studied as a tectonic structural event as a geographical event and A craton ( Greek kratos / κρἀτος ( neut. "strength" is an old and stable part of the Continental crust that has survived An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer A volcanic belt is a large volcanically active region Other terms are used for smaller areas of activity such as volcanic fields Volcanic belts are found above zones Tectonic studies are also important for understanding erosion patterns in geomorphology and as guides for the economic geologist searching for petroleum and metallic ores. Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind Geomorphology (from Greek: γη ge, "earth" μορφή morfé, "form" and λόγος Logos, "knowledge" Economic geology is concerned with earth materials that can be utilized for economic and/or industrial purposes Petroleum geology refers to the specific set of geological disciplines that are applied to the search for Hydrocarbons ( Oil exploration) The M acro E xpansion T emplate A ttribute L anguage complements TAL, providing macros which allow the reuse of code across An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining

A subfield of tectonics that deals with tectonic phenomena in the geologically recent period is called neotectonics. Neotectonics is a subdiscipline of Tectonics. It is the study of the motions and deformations of the Earth's crust ( geological and geomorphological

Tectonic studies have application to lunar and planetary studies, whether or not those bodies have active tectonic plate systems.

Since the 1960s, plate tectonics has become by far the dominant theory to explain the origin and forces responsible for the tectonic features of the continents and ocean basins. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Plate tectonics (from Greek τέκτων tektōn "builder" or "mason" describes the large scale motions of Earth 's Lithosphere

There are three main types of tectonic regime

• Extensional tectonics
• Thrust (Contractional) tectonics
• Strike-slip tectonics

References

• Edward A. Extensional tectonics is concerned with the structures formed and the tectonic processes associated with the stretching of the crust or Lithosphere. Thrust tectonics is concerned with the structures formed and the tectonic processes associated with the shortening of the crust or Lithosphere. Strike-slip tectonics is concerned with the structures formed by and the tectonic processes associated with zones of lateral displacement within the crust or Lithosphere Keller (2001) Active Tectonics: Earthquakes, Uplift, and Landscape Prentice Hall; 2nd edition, ISBN 0-13-088230-5
• Stanley A. Schumm, Jean F. Dumont and John M. Holbrook (2002) Active Tectonics and Alluvial Rivers, Cambridge University Press; Reprint edition, ISBN 0-521-89058-6

See also

• Geophysics
• Seismology
• Volcanology

External links

• The Origin and the Mechanics of the Forces Responsible for Tectonic Plate Movements
• The Paleomap Project