Benioff zone
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Cross-section of the Benioff zone
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A dipping planar (flat) zone of earthquakes that is produced by the interaction of a downgoing oceanic crustal plate with a continental plate. These earthquakes can be produced by slip along the subduction thrust fault or by slip on faults within the downgoing plate as a result of bending and extension as the plate is pulled into the mantle. Also known as the Wadati-Benioff zone.
Related category
• GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
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