There used to be a clear distinction between the application of the
terms 'transcurrent fault' and 'transform fault'. The former, also
called a 'wrench' or 'strike slip' fault implied physical offset in
either dextral or sinistral sense, of terrain across the fault. The
latter term used to be confined to the apparent offset of spreading
centers and related magnetic lineations across a linear boundary, the
nature of which was problematical. However the term 'Transform Fault'
now seems to be applied to any so-called 'conservative' plate
boundary across which lateral displacement can be established; for
example, the San Andreas Fault, which used to be considered a wrench
fault.
Can someone please clarify modern accepted usage of the term
'transform fault'? Are there many examples of transform faults (in
the original sense) offsetting continental crust?
Malcolm
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