Relating to the large-scale structure and deformation of the earth's crust and the forces that shape it.
From Greek 'geo-' (earth) + 'tektonikos' (of building or structure). This adjective form became prominent in the 20th century as geologists mapped crustal structures and understood plate boundaries.
When geologists describe a 'geotectonic boundary,' they're talking about where tectonic plates meet—these are Earth's most dramatic areas where earthquakes happen, volcanoes erupt, and mountains grow. The geotectonic setting of California, straddling the San Andreas Fault, explains why it's so earthquake-prone.
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