Earthquakes can be severe along the San Andreas Fault in Southern California but volcanoes are nonexistent Which statement BEST explains this patter A. The crust is thin and weak at the location of this fault. B. The material in the mantle solidified due to cooling under this fault. C. The crustal plates slide along each other without subducting at this fault. D. The material along this fault is smooth and fine grained.

The correct answer is:<br /><br />C. The crustal plates slide along each other without subducting at this fault.<br /><br />Explanation:<br />The San Andreas Fault is a transform fault, where two tectonic plates (the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate) slide past each other horizontally. This lateral movement does not involve one plate being forced under another (subduction), which is typically associated with volcanic activity. Instead, the sliding motion primarily causes earthquakes. Therefore, the absence of subduction explains why there are no volcanoes along the San Andreas Fault.