shear zone

noun

1. Geology. a zone of closely spaced, approximately parallel faults or dispersed displacements.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shear zone¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

But government officials have told Indian media that engineers were aware the tunnel traversed a “shear zone” of brittle rock, and that it had experienced numerous smaller rock falls over the past few years.

From Science Magazine

Preliminary findings indicated the collapse may have been caused by a geological fault, known as a "shear zone", a member of the panel told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to the media.

From Reuters

There is a line of potentially ripening fault zones along the so-called Eastern California Shear Zone, one of the state’s most significant seismic zones, which carries a good chunk of the earthquake burden needed to accommodate tectonic plate movement as the Pacific plate slides northwest past the North American plate.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Garlock acts as a mechanical bridge between the northern Eastern California Shear Zone and the San Andreas.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Ridgecrest quakes occurred in a vast seismic region called the Eastern California Shear Zone, representing a broad swath of the state that includes Palm Springs and the Owens Valley.

From Los Angeles Times