Conservative plate margins

A conservative plate margin, also known as a passive or transform boundary, involves two tectonic plates sliding past each other. This movement is not seamless; friction between the plates causes them to become stuck. As time progresses, pressure builds up until it reaches a point where it overpowers the friction, causing the plates to shift suddenly. This sudden release of pressure emits vast amounts of energy, leading to an earthquake. Earthquakes at conservative plate boundaries can be very destructive as they occur close to the Earth’s surface.