What type of faults are described as "ductile" and occur at great depths or high temperatures?

The term "ductile" refers to the ability of materials to deform under stress without breaking, often occurring under conditions of high temperature and pressure, which are typically found deep within the Earth's crust. Shear zones represent regions where rocks have been deformed by shear stress in a ductile manner, which allows them to flow and change shape rather than fracture. This deformation happens over extensive periods, accommodating the motion and stress resulting from tectonic forces at significant depths.

Other fault types such as normal, strike-slip, and reverse faults primarily involve brittle deformation, where rocks fracture due to rapid stress changes or lower temperatures. In contrast, shear zones accommodate movement through ductility, making them the specific structure associated with the conditions described in the question.