Question

Distinguish between folding and faulting.

CBSE Class IX Social Science SA (3 Marks)

Answer 1

(i)  Folding: A bend in the rock strata resulting from
compression of an area of the earth's crust.
Faulting: Rocks are moved or displaced or linear cracks may appear.

(ii)  Folding: It results from convergent plate boundaries. Faulting: It results from divergent plate boundaries.

(iii) Folding: The Himalayas are examples of folding. Faulting: The Peninsular Plateau is an example of faulting.

Answer 2

Folding

(i) Folding is caused due to horizontal movements.

(ii) Forces move towards a common centre.

(iii) Due to compression, different types of folds are formed.

(iv) It leads to the formation of anticlines and synclines.

(v) They are generally common in sedimentary rocks, e.g., the Himalayas and the Alps.

Faulting

(i) it is caused generally due to vertical movements.

(ii) Forces move away from the common centre.

(iii) Due to tension, faults occur along which displacement of rocks take place.

(iv) It leads to the formation of Block Mountains and Rift valleys, due to upliftment and subsidence of land.

(v) They are generally common in Igneous or Metamorphic rocks, e.g., Vosges and Black forest are Block Mountains and the river Rhine flows through the rift valley. In India, river Narmada and Tapi flow through a rift valley. (any three)