The period during which stress accumulates in rocks before rupture is known as the

• A. Elastic rebound
• B. Aftershock sequence
• C. Fault creep
• D. Earthquake cycle

Answer: (D)

Stress builds up on faults during the buildup phase of the earthquake cycle, when the fault remains locked and the rocks deform elastically until they rupture. The term elastic rebound refers to the release and snap-back of rocks during rupture, not the period of accumulation. Fault creep involves slow, continuous slip that can relieve some stress, so it doesn’t describe the main buildup phase. After a quake, aftershocks may occur as the crust readjusts, which is a later part of the cycle. The overall sequence that includes stress accumulation, rupture, and recovery is the earthquake cycle, so that term best fits the described period.