Transform faults and large horizontal displacements of the ocean floor

Abstract

The evidence concerning the existence of transform<br />faults and the occurrence of sea-floor spreading is reviewed and discussed.<br />Available fault-plane solutions indicate that the direction of motion along<br />some oceanic fracture zones is opposite to that which would be expected<br />in case of transcurrent faults. The support for the sea-floor spreading hypothesis<br />comes mainly from magnetic investigations. The problem, however,<br />presents formidable dynamic and rheological aspects, and is far from being<br />completely solved.