What occurs at a transform boundary?

At a transform boundary, tectonic plates grind against each other horizontally. This interaction occurs without the creation or destruction of the lithosphere, which is a key characteristic of transform boundaries. As the plates move past one another, they can lead to a considerable amount of friction, and when the stress exceeds the frictional force, the plates can suddenly slip, resulting in earthquakes.

This process differs significantly from the activities at divergent and convergent boundaries. At divergent boundaries, plates pull away from each other, allowing magma to rise from the mantle and create new oceanic crust, while at convergent boundaries, plates collide, which can lead to features such as mountain ranges or volcanic activity due to subduction. Therefore, the nature of motion and the geological phenomena associated with a transform boundary is accurately described by the interaction of plates grinding against each other.