Tectonic block explained

A tectonic block is a part of the Earth's crust that can be treated as a solid rigid crustal block or lithospheric section. A tectonic block may be bounded by faults. It may move from one place to another because of a tectonic shift, and they may also be rotated. A tectonic block may have a proper name for example, the Muness Phyllite Block (which is located in Unst and Uyea in Scotland),^[1] or the South China Block.^[2]

Early use of the term tectonic block referred to the blocks of rock on either side of a fault.^[3]

Continental regions may be subdivided into tectonic blocks which are mapped in order to determine earthquake risk.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Flinn. D.. A Tectonic Analysis of the Muness Phyllite Block of Unst and Uyea, Shetland. Geological Magazine. 1 May 2009. 89. 4. 263–272. 10.1017/S0016756800067741.
2. Faure. Michel. Lepvrier. Claude. Nguyen. Vuong Van. Vu. Tich Van. Lin. Wei. Chen. Zechao. The South China block-Indochina collision: Where, when, and how?. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. January 2014. 79. 260–274. 10.1016/j.jseaes.2013.09.022.
3. Gilbert. G. K.. Earthquake Forecasts. Science. 1909. 29. 734. 121–138. 10.1126/science.29.734.121. 1635153. 17730301.
4. Web site: McCaffrey. R.. Bird. P.. Bormann. J.. Haller. K.M.. Hammond. W.C.. Thatcher. W.. Wells. R.E.. Zeng. Y.. Appendix A—NSHMP Block Model of Western United States Active Tectonics. 27–47.