Which feature is characterized by horizontal movement of rocks?

Prepare for the GACE Middle Grades Science Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

The feature characterized by horizontal movement of rocks is a strike-slip fault. In this type of fault, the primary displacement occurs along the horizontal plane, where two blocks of the earth's crust slide past one another laterally. Strike-slip faults are typically associated with shearing forces, which result from tectonic movements in regions where tectonic plates are sliding in opposite directions. These faults can create significant geological features and are often seen in areas near tectonic plate boundaries.

This characteristic of horizontal movement distinguishes strike-slip faults from other types, such as dip-slip faults, which involve vertical movement; normal faults, which also involve vertical displacement but typically result from tension rather than shear; and folded mountains, which are created from compressional forces that lead to the bending of the earth's crust rather than sliding movement. All these differences reinforce why the strike-slip fault is the correct answer in relation to horizontal movement.

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