What type of environment is typified by brittle deformation?
A)deep burial with great confining pressure
B)intermediate depths with long slow heating and gradual strain rates
C)shallow, low temperature settings with high strain rates
D)shallow very high temperature settings as in contact metamorphism

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Brittle deformation occurs when rocks break or fracture, and typically occurs at shallow depths with high strain rates. This type of deformation is characterized by the absence of plastic deformation, and is often associated with faults and earthquake activity. Deep burial with great confining pressure (A) would tend to result in plastic deformation instead of brittle deformation, as the high pressure would prevent rocks from fracturing. Similarly, intermediate depths with long slow heating and gradual strain rates (B) would tend to result in ductile deformation rather than brittle deformation. Shallow very high temperature settings, as in contact metamorphism (D), could potentially result in brittle deformation but this would depend on the specific conditions and characteristics of the rocks involved.

What Type of Environment Is Typified by Brittle Deformation