brittle deformation

Brittle deformation refers to how rocks respond to stress by breaking or fracturing rather than bending or flowing. When the forces acting on a rock exceed its strength, the rock fractures along cracks called faults or joints. This process creates visible breaks or fractures in rocks, such as when a mineral vein splits or a fault line forms. Brittle deformation typically occurs at shallow depths where rocks are cooler and more able to fracture. It is a key process in shaping Earth's crust, leading to features like fault lines, earthquakes, and rock blocks that move relative to each other.