Which mechanism most directly causes shallow-focus earthquakes along oceanic transform faults?

💡 Explanation

When accumulated stress exceeds frictional strength, elastic rebound occurs in transform faults because the asperities deform elastically then rupture suddenly, releasing seismic energy. Therefore elastic rebound leads to earthquakes, rather than mantle plume, shear forces or volatile exsolution which are associated with volcanism or deep mantle processes.

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