Crustal Movement

Crustal movements cause the deformation and displacement of crustal rocks, including structural changes induced by the internal dynamics of the Earth and nonstructural changes (such as effects of gravity, diagenesis, glaciers, chemical action and biological action). Based on the characteristics of the deformation, crustal movements can be divided into folding and faulting. According to the mode of movement and the resulting features, crustal movements can be categorised as mountain building (geosynclines become orogenic belts through inversion folding), epeirogenic movements (extensive uplift of land masses to form continents), and oscillatory movements (alternating uplift and subsidence). The study of crustal movement mainly focuses on the frequency, periods, nature, processes and modes, origin, and energy sources of crustal movements. The main common characteristics identified to date are as follows: (1) the dominance of horizontal movements; (2) the unique orientation of movements;...