Final answer:
Rocks under compression stress fold and usually deform plastically deep within Earth, while those near the surface may fracture and form faults.
Tensional and shear stress cause faults and such deformations can occur quickly or slowly, influenced by depth and stress duration.
Tectonic settings play a crucial role in the formation of different geological structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The different results of stress on layers of rock depend on the type of stress, rock characteristics, and environmental conditions.
Compression stress, occurring when rocks are pushed together, generates features like folds in the rocks. This process can occur slowly over significant periods under high pressure deep within the Earth, often resulting in plastic deformation, where rock bends without breaking.
In contrast, when brittle deformation occurs, usually close to the surface, rocks break, leading to formation of faults such as normal, reverse, or strike-slip faults, which can occur relatively quickly.
Tensional stress, where rocks pull apart, can create normal faults and can happen rapidly during events like earthquakes, or slowly as tectonic forces work over time.
Shear stress from horizontal movements can generate strike-slip faults. The speed and manner in which rocks deform under stress (slow plastic deformation versus quick brittle fracturing) is influenced by the depth at which the rock is located and the duration of the stress applied.
Understanding plate tectonics can help in explaining how different rocks form and the tectonic settings that contribute to the creation of various geological structures.