Types of Faults and Stresses

Front

What is a normal fault?

Back

A type of fault where the rock above the fault plane moves down relative to the rock below it, typically caused by tensional forces.

Front

What type of stress is associated with a normal fault?

Back

Tensional stress.

Front

What type of mountain is formed by normal faulting?

Back

Fault-block Mountain.

Front

What is tension in geology?

Back

A type of stress that pulls rocks apart, similar to stretching a rubber band.

Front

What is a reverse fault?

Back

A type of fault where the rock above the fault plane moves up relative to the rock below it, typically caused by compressional forces.

Front

What type of stress is associated with a reverse fault?

Back

Compressional stress.

Front

What is a strike-slip fault?

Back

A type of fault where rocks slide past each other horizontally, typically caused by shearing stress.

Front

What type of stress is associated with a strike-slip fault?

Back

Shearing stress.

Front

What is the East African Rift Zone?

Back

A geological feature that is an example of a normal fault, where the African tectonic plate is splitting into two.

Front

What is a fault-block mountain?

Back

A mountain formed by the movement of large blocks of the Earth's crust, typically associated with normal faults.