At convergent plate boundaries, where two plates are moving toward one another, compression stress occurs. Tensional stress occurs when two plates are diverging from one another, or at divergent plate boundaries. At transform boundaries, where two plates are sliding past one another, shear stress is felt.
Both smaller, localized faults and larger tectonic plate boundaries are influenced by stress. The type of stress and the circumstances under which the rock is being put under stress will determine how the rock reacts. Different kinds of faults and plate boundaries are created as a result of this alteration in the Earth's crust.
