Question

Joints differ from faults in that?

1) Rocks have not moved along joints whereas rocks have moved along faults
2) Water is able to flow through joints but not through faults
3) Faults promote the weathering of rocks whereas joints do not
4) Joints form in rocks that have ductile rheology whereas faults form in rocks that have elastic rheology
5) Joints tend to produce larger earthquakes than faults

Answer 1

The primary difference between joints and faults is that joints are fractures where no significant movement of rocks has occurred, while faults involve the displacement of rocks, which can lead to earthquakes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Joints differ from faults in that rocks have not moved along joints whereas rocks have moved along faults. This is a significant difference because faults involve the displacement of rocks on either side of the fracture, which can lead to seismic activity. The process of weathering and erosion can indeed impact joints and faults by breaking down rock material; however, the key distinction is that faults have movement, and this movement is responsible for earthquakes when stress is released suddenly in the Earth's crust. The water flow through joints and faults is not a primary differentiator because both can potentially allow water passage, impacting weathering processes.