Final answer:
A thrust fault is associated with convergent plate boundaries where compressional stress causes one plate to move over another, forming structures like mountain ranges. The San Andreas Fault is an example of a transform boundary where the Pacific and North American plates slide horizontally past each other, which can cause earthquakes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thrust Faults and Plate Tectonics
A thrust fault occurs in a tectonic setting where compressional forces are at play. Typically, this type of fault is associated with convergent plate boundaries, where one crustal plate is being pushed up over the other, leading to the formation of mountain ranges. In the provided instance of the Copper Creek Thrust Fault in Tennessee, the compressional stress is the result of the tectonic collision between the African and North American plates during the Pennsylvanian. Similarly, in the case of the San Andreas Fault in California, a different kind of boundary, a transform boundary, exists where the Pacific plate and the North American plate are sliding past each other horizontally, causing seismic activity.
The San Andreas Fault, specifically the boundary between the Pacific plate and the North American plate, sees the Pacific plate moving northward relative to the North American plate. This movement carries southern cities like Los Angeles and San Diego along with it. Fault zones such as this one can cause several centimeters of movement per year, which is similar to the spreading rates along rifts and can lead to earthquakes.