Regularly spaced joints in an outcrop may indicate that an area ________.
A) is under intense shear stress
B) has experienced tension
C) is underlain by a thrust fault
D) is underlain by a magma body

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Regularly spaced joints are usually formed in rocks due to tensional stresses, which cause the rock to fracture along planes perpendicular to the direction of the stress. This can occur in areas where the rock has been stretched or pulled apart, such as at divergent plate boundaries or in areas undergoing extensional tectonic forces. It is less likely to be due to shear stress, thrust faults, or magma bodies.

Regularly Spaced Joints in an Outcrop May Indicate That an Area