Diastrophism

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Diastrophism is a general term that refers to deformation of the Earth's crust.

The term covers movement of solid crust material (as opposed to molten material which is volcanism). The movements cause rock to be bent or broken as a result of pressures exterted by plate tectonics or the rise of magma from below.

The most obvious evidence of disastrophic movement can be seen in sedimentary rock where bent, broken or non-horizontal strata provide visual proof of movement. Diastrophic movement can be classified as two types, folding and faulting.

See Structural geology for more information.

[edit] References

• McKnight, Tom L; Hess, Darrel (2000). "The Internal Processes: Diastrophism", Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 409. ISBN 0-13-020263-0.