Recognizing faults

Some faults are easy to see…

• A Normal fault
The San Andreas fault - a slip fault
 Compression
A thrust fault
showing
how layers
have
Hanging wall moved.
(black is a
layer of
Foot wall coal)
 Compression:
Distortion along a fault
• Movement drags on the rock next to this thrust fault.

• The layers
became bent Hanging wall
when the walls
moved.

Foot wall
Fault
Extension

• An area of
extension is called
Basin and Range
topography.

(the flat areas are

basins, the
mountains are
ranges)
 Extension
• The fault line is here

Hanging wall
This lower area has dropped
down
<====

Foot wall
Extension
• Normal faults

Foot wall

Hanging wall

Foot wall
Notice this
broken layer has
moved down.
 Extension
• Can you see a normal fault in this picture?

Hanging Wall

The black shale

layer has
dropped down
compared to the
other side.
Foot Wall

http://raider.muc.edu/~mcnaugma/structur.htm
 Hanging wall
s this a normal
or
thrust fault?

Foot wall

http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/Death_Valley_Friday.htm
 Is this a normal or thrust fault?

(Same layer)
Hanging wall

Foot wall

http://raider.muc.edu/~mcnaugma/structur.htm
 Is this a normal or thrust fault?

Hanging wall
(older rock)
(younger rock)
Foot wall

http://raider.muc.edu/~mcnaugma/structur.htm
 Normal or Thrust fault?

www.pitt.edu/.../7Structures/NormalFaults.html
 Normal
or
thrust
fault?

http://gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/geo101/faults.htm
Thrust or Normal faults?
Side
View
Side
View
Birds-eye
View
Side
View
Birds-eye
View
Side
View