conservative plate margins

• A conservative (passive or transform as it is also known) plate margin involves two tectonic plates sliding past each other. The plates do not pass each other smoothly. Friction causes them to get stuck. Over time pressure builds up until the friction is overcome which results in the plates slipping.  When the pressure is released it sends out huge amounts of energy causing an earthquake.
• Earthquakes at conservative plate boundaries can be very destructive as they occur close to the Earth’s surface. Following an earthquake along a conservative plate boundary, there are often aftershocks as the additional stress on other areas along the fault are relieved. These aftershocks can further damage already weakened structures and can often be as dangerous as the main earthquake.
• conservation plate margin


  plates slide past each other