Which mechanical process causes frequent shallow earthquakes along a transform plate boundary?

💡 Explanation

When plates slide past each other, asperities create friction that prevents continuous movement; this intermittent locking and abrupt rupture is stick-slip friction, leading to brittle deformation and shallow earthquakes. Therefore brittle deformation occurs through stick-slip, rather than ductile flow, rebound, or vent deposition which require different geological settings.

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