Which type of stress causes rocks to fold?
Geography · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021
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The type of stress that causes rocks to fold is called compressional stress. Compressional stress occurs when an object is squeezed or compressed by forces directed towards each other from opposite sides. In the context of geology, this kind of stress is associated with tectonic plate movements, where plates can move towards each other (convergent boundaries). The pressure exerted by this motion can compress and deform the layers of rock, leading to the formation of folds.
When rock layers are subject to compressional stress over a long period of time, they can bend and form structures such as anticlines (upward-arching folds) and synclines (downward-arching folds). Folds can be gentle or tight, and they vary greatly in size, from microscopic to mountain-sized.