What is Fracture (geology)?
[[File:Cracks at Sunrise-on-Sea, Eastern Cape.jpg|thumb|Cracks in rock are a response to too much [[Stress (physics)|stress]] or [[strain (mechanics)|strain]]]] In [[geology]], a '''fracture''' is any kind of separation or break in a [[rock formation]]. Examples are [[Joint (geology)|joints]] or [[Fault (geology)|faults]]. These divides the [[Rock (geology)|rock]] into two or more pieces.<ref>Gudmundsson, Agust (2011) ''Rock Fractures in Geological Processes'' Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, {{ISBN|978-0-521-86392-6}}</ref> A fracture can sometimes form a deep, wide crack in the rock. They are usually caused when the rock is not strong enough to hold up under too much [[Stress (physics)|stress]]. This makes the rock crack along its weakest point.<ref>Park, R. G. (2005) ''Foundation of Structural Geology'' (reprint of the 1997 Chapman and Hall edition) Routledge, Abingdon, England,[https://books.google.com/books?id=ycASqdxSG3YC&pg=PA9 page 9], {{ISBN|978-0-7487-5802-9}}</ref> Fractures can provide access for [[fluid]]s, like [[water]] or [[hydrocarbon]]s, to move into the rock. ==References== {{Reflist}} {{sci-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fracture (Geology)}} [[Category:Geology]]