Final answer:
The Rocky Mountains were formed by a type of fault called a Reverse fault, where rocks slide past each other due to compression, causing uplift. This movement can also generate earthquakes. A fault is a fracture or break between two blocks of rocks caused by tectonic forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of fault that formed the Rocky Mountains is a Reverse fault. Reverse faults occur when the rock layers are compressed and pushed together, causing one block of rock to move upward and the other to move downward along a steep fault plane. This compression and uplift of the rock layers led to the formation of the Rocky Mountains.
When rocks in a fault slip, they slide past each other. In a fault, there is movement along the fault plane, which can result in earthquakes. The abrupt release of accumulated stress along a fault causes the rocks to slip, generating an earthquake.
A fault is the fracture or break between two blocks of rocks. It is the result of tectonic forces that cause movement and deformation of the Earth's crust. Faults can range in size from small fractures to large-scale geological features.
Learn more about Rocky Mountains formation and types of faults