geotectonics

Geotectonics, also known as structural geology, is the scientific study of the deformation of rocks within the Earth's crust and the forces that cause these changes. This field examines phenomena such as mountain building through folding and faulting, gradual crustal movements, and sudden displacements along faults.12

The primary framework for understanding these processes is the theory of plate tectonics. This theory posits that the Earth's rigid outer layer, the lithosphere, is broken into large and small plates that move over a weaker, partially molten layer called the asthenosphere. Interactions at the boundaries of these plates—where they diverge, converge, or slide past each other—are responsible for major geological events like earthquakes, volcanism, and the formation of mountain ranges.345