Transform (fault) boundaries are?

• A. Deep vertical faults where two plates slide horizontally past one another, with no crust created or destroyed.
• B. Regions where new crust is created at mid-ocean ridges.
• C. Zones where one plate sinks beneath another, producing magma.
• D. Areas where continents collide and form mountains.

Answer: (A)

Transform boundaries are places where two tectonic plates slide past one another horizontally along a fault. This shear motion means there’s no net creation or destruction of crust at the boundary, unlike at divergent boundaries where new crust forms or convergent boundaries where crust is recycled. The movement is often abrupt, causing earthquakes as rocks strain and snap free along the fault. These boundaries frequently link segments of mid-ocean ridges and can occur on land, as seen in the San Andreas Fault, illustrating how lateral motion accommodates plate movement without adding or removing material.