Which tectonic plate boundary type is exemplified by the San Andreas Fault in California, where two plates slide past each other horizontally without creating or destroying crust?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The San Andreas Fault is a classic example of a transform fault boundary where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide horizontally past one another. This conservative plate margin is associated with frequent shallow-focus earthquakes but lacks volcanic activity. Divergent and convergent boundaries involve the creation and destruction of lithosphere respectively.