I he l\ Ol~" of Petroleum Geologi~ts Bulleon

IClil '\"l)(lJlllIil
\ oK, No 7 (July 19841. P. 801-815,32 rig,.

Listric Normal Faults: An Dlustrated Summaryl

JOHN w. SHELTON"

ABSTRACT Listric normal faults form during rifting, drifting, and

evolution of passive continental margins with concomi-
Normal faults are commonly listric, that is, the dip flat- tant basinal denlopment. Listric faults confined to the
tens with depth. Movement along this type of fault is sedimentary prism are common features on passive mar-
instrumental in formation of several types of structural gins, especially in progradational, post-evaporite
traps (e.g., rollover anticlines and upthrown-fault-block sequences. The basement is offset by listric faults as a fun-
closures). Some listric faults are restricted to sedimentary damental element in the development of other types of
rocks, whereas others offset basement rocks. Tbeoretical basins, including those whicb formed during postorogenic
data, rock-mechanical and simulated model experiments, extension. They also occur as secondary extensional fea-
and foundation-engineering tests and failures suggest tbat tures in an overall compressive stress regime due to plate
this type of fault may occur where brittle rocks overlie duc- connrgence and during transform or strike-slip faulting.
tile rocks in an extensional regime. In some places the duc-
tile section may be thin and bounded sharply at its top. INTRODUCTION
Also, the extensional regime may be locally derived within
a broader stress regime of another type, as evidenced by A listric fault is characterized by a decreasing angle of
transtension associated with strike-slip movement and dip with depth. It, therefore, is a curved surface which is
arched strata in a compressive setting. concave upward. Apparently the concept was introduced
The flattening of the fault reflects an increase in ductility by Edward Suess in the early part of this century (Bally et
of the rocks with depth and, in some cases, deformation of ai, 1981) as part of his description of faults in coal mines in
the fault due to compaction or tilting of the upthrown northern France.
block. The dip angle may vary along the strike of the fault Listric thrust faults have been recognized for a long time
in response to changes in throw. In cross section, a listric as a basic feature of thin-skinned tectonics, with decolle-
fault may consist of relatively short, en echelon fault seg- ments. Now, as deep faults soling in the ductile crust, they
ments. This geometry may be particularly cbaracteristic of are also considered an integral part of suturing during
growth faults. Sedimentary faults may sole in ductile plate convergence (e.g., Thompson, 1976). Although lis-
strata, or they may represent the brittle part of a fault-flow tric normal faults have been recognized as updip (or
system. Fault patterns commonly are characterized by upslope) segments of gravitational slides (e.g., Reeves,
bifurcation, some of which may occur near the ends of 1925, 1946; Hubbert and Rubey, 1959; Wise, 1963), most
individual faults comprising a zone. commonly they have been regarded as a special feature of
Although unequivocal recognition of listric normal syndepositional faults in strongly subsident basins con-
faults requires unusually extensive outcrop data, close taining thick shale (with or without salt) below prograda-
subsurface control, or high-quality seismic data, their tional sandstone sections. This general opinion probably
presence is suggested indirectly by such features as increas- derives from the abundance of sedimentary faults in the
ing dip with depth toward tbe controlling fault ("reverse northern Gulf Coast basin (Texas and Louisiana) and the
drag"), thick progradational sandstone overlying ductile common knowledge of "rotational slips" and associated
strata, and in some cases arcuate fault patterns, basins, or failures in foundation engineering (Figure 1). Apparently
uplifts. little significance was given to the early work of Davis
(1925) and Longwell (1933, 1945), who described listric
©Copyright1984. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All
normal faults offsetting crystalline and/or basement
rights reserved. rocks in the western United States; to the theoretical treat-
, Manuscript received, May 18, 1983; accepted, December 7, 1983. ment of Hafner (1951), who showed curved stress trajecto-
2 ERICa, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172.
For documentary data which have not been published, the writer is indebted ries including conditions for listric normal faults; or to the
to Shell Oil Co. for materials from the Gulf Coast and to G. W. Hart for data and work of Carey (1958), who described listric normal faults
interpretations in the Arkoma basin. Laura F. Serpa and R. E. Denison pro· as a major feature in development of rift valleys. It seems
vided information on basement·involved faults and detached sediments,
respectively. reasonable, therefore, to regard listric geometry as a com-
Appreciation is gratefully expressed to many colleagues and acquaintances mon feature of both thrust and normal faults displacing
who for more than 2 decades have stimulated thought on this subject of listric
(rotational) normal faults. Kaspar Arbenz kindly reviewed the original manu· sedimentary and/or basement rocks.
script and made numerous helpful suggestions. Appreciation is also Wernicke and Burchfiel (1982) have grouped normal
expressed to AAPG Editors M. K. Horn and Richard Steinmetz, Science Direc· faults into two categories: rotational and nonrotational.
tor Edward A. Beaumont, and reviewers for their valuable comments. Yet the
author must assume responsibility for errors or any aberration in accepted The rotational category is divided into (a) those with rota-
thought. tion of beds along listric faults, and (b) those with rotation
David E. Brooker drafted the illustrations, and Sherry Hempel, Mildred P. of beds and faults along planar or listric faults. Nonrota-
Lee, anet Dianne O'Malley prepared the typescript. O'Malley also assisted in
compilation of the references. S. W. Carey kindly provided the reference noted tional faults have no rotation of structures along planar
herein to his work. faults.

801
802 Listric Normal Faults

~FlLL+b CLAY

L __________________________________ ~

Figure 2-Structural map of top of Wilcox Group (Eocene) in

South Bancroft field, Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, showing
rollover anticline. After Murray (1961).
Figure I-Foundation failures resembling configurations of
faults in sedimentary rocks. A. Rotational slip in foundation due
to localized loading of uniform clay. B. Base failure due to load-
ing offoundation with thin clay. After Terzaghi and Peck (1948). A

o
Wernicke and Burchfiel indicate that large-scale dis- U
-7600'
placement on low-angle listric normal faults results in a
-7650'
series of tilted planar-fault blocks, forming "extensional 400011
-7700'
allochthons." 1000m
Both normal and thrust listric faults, along with planar

--~
A A'
faults, are of major significance to the explorationist
because they are an important element in the formation of

V=
traps in faulted strata. Presently a commonly held opinion
is that listric normal and thrust faults may be sequentially
related (or even coincident) in some areas that undergo
I
changes in tectonic regime. For example, listric thrust
!A'
faults may be reactivated as normal faults when an earlier
formed orogenic belt is subjected to extension (Bally et ai, c
1966), and, conversely, normal faults may be reactivated
as thrusts during the evolution of a continental margin
from a passive to active phase (Cohen, 1982). Further, the
location of thrusts with displacement during the active
phase (after basinal subsidence) may be predetermined by (2) (4)

buried normal faults that formed during the earlier pas- Z)

--------- ------"------------->~--- .....--~
sive phase (during basinal subsidence). Listric normal
faults are probably important elements in the develop- Figure 3-A. Structural map of Lower Cretaceous marker in
Pleasanton field, Atascosa County, Texas, depicting tilted-fault-
ment of many basins. Downward dip-slip movement of
block trap. After Murray (1961). B. Hypothetical fault closure
faulted strata in the hanging wall of a listric normal fault due to absolute movement of upthrown block. C. Fault blocks
may result in "reverse drag" in half grabens or "rollover" with potential for trap in each upthrown block due to rotation of
(dip-direction reversal), with formation of an anticlinal that block (e.g., dip in block 2 is due to rotational movement
feature (Figure 2). Absolute movement, with rotation of along fault X).
an upthrown block, may result in a tilted fault block with
reverse drag. Significant variations in displacement along
the strike of a fault present conditions for closure against it
(Figure 3). The closure may also result from differential CLASTICS AND VOLCANICS

rotation (along the strike of a fault) of an entire block

which itself is downthrown with respect to a subjacent
"underlying" fault (Figure 3C), or by changes in strati-
graphic thicknesses along the strike of the fault. The
detailed geometry of the faults provides subtle trapping ASTHENOSPHERE

potential. For example, lateral branching or overlapping

ends of faults are possible elements of subsidiary traps. figure 4-::,chematic cross section of major rift zones rupturing a
Also, movement along individual faults of a fault zone continent-before possible drifting and formation of passive
may result in several traps rather than one larger trap. con1inental margins. After Dewey and Bird (1970).
 John W. Shelton 803

B c

ARE.A OF
EXTENSION

10mi
10km

--=------- 0
/

Figllre 5- "reas of extension with normal faults resulting from wrenching. A. Extension with formation of Ridge basin due to diver-
gent wrenching between San Andreas and San Gabriel faults (after Wilcox et aI, 1973). B. Extension due to movement along parallel
en echelon wrench or transform faults. C. Extension due to conjugate wrench faults (based on discussion in Wilcox et aI, 1973). D. En
echelon normal faults of Lake Basin fault zone in south-central Montana due to left-lateral faulting (after Fanshawe and Alpha, 1954;
Harding, 1974). Faults of this type may be riedel shears along which there is some dip-slip component.

This review is restricted to normal faults, with descrip- CAUSES OF NORMAL FAULTING
tion of (1) faults along which the apparent relative dis-
placement of the hanging wall was down with respect to Normal faults occur in response to extension, which may
the footwall and (2) faults which formed in a local or be crustal extension, sedimentary-section extension, or
regional stress regime wherein the maximum principal basement and/or sedimentary-section extension.
stress, (71' is interpreted to have been vertical or near verti- 1. Crustal extension results from (a) divergent plate
cal. In many places movement of strata along listric faults movement, expressed by rifts (Figure 4); (b) arching by
is dip-slip and rotational, with the axis of rotation being thermal expansion (e.g., development of a plume); and (c)
parallel with the strike of the fault. Under conditions transtension accompanying divergent wrenching (wrench
where the primary feature is a strike-slip fault, the dip-slip or transform faulting) and movement along parallel to
component of the total displacement across the fault may subparallel en echelon faults or "plates" or along conju-
also be comparatively "small," and movement along the gate wrench faults (Wilcox et ai, 1973; Harding anq Low-
listric fault may vary significantly from dip slip. The scale ell, 1979; Burchfiel and Royden, 1982) (Figure 5).
of the "small" displacement, of course, may be more than 2. Sedimentary-section extension results from (a) flow-
1,000 m (3,300 ft). age of ductile substrate (shale and/or salt) (e.g., Bruce,
In this paper, concepts are presented before examples; 1973; Woodbury et aI, 1973; Humphris, 1978) (Figure 6);
the topics, in order, are: causes of normal faulting and of (b) increase in stratal dip and resultant gravitational slid-
listric normal faults, geometry, propagation, growth ing (e.g., Hubbert and Rubey, 1959) (Figure 7); (c) bend-
faults, evidence for listric faults, and occurrences. The pri- ing, or arching, during uplift (e.g., associated with salt or
mary references are Bally et al (1981) and Bally (1983). The igneous intrusion; see Figure 8), and flexural or concentric
former is a resume of listric normal faults in various geo- folding associated with compressional folding; (d) strike-
logic settings, in particular, passive continental margins slip faulting (possible normal separation along at least
and orogenic systems. The latter, which is a pictorial atlas part of the length of a fault which may be a riedel shear;
of seismic sections illustrating various structural styles, Figure 5D).
contains outstanding examples of listric normal faults 3. Basement and/or sedimentary-section extension
from several extensional provinces. results from (a) uplift during transpression accompanying
804 Listric Normal Faults

UPPER
1.0

TOP NAVARRO
Figure 6-Schematic cross section across Texas part of northern
Gulf of Mexico basin, with normal faulting due to flowage of
ductile shale. After Bruce (1973). 2.0 ;; E
~ g
4000ft
1000m

y --L
3.0 sec
..-?"

" ZONE OF ABNORMAL PORE PRESSURE

/'
Figure 8-Seismic cross section of Pescadito dome, Webb
County, Texas, showing normal faults due to extension in strata
overlying salt. After Halbouty (1979).

Figure 7-Normal faulting due to gravitational sliding in

response to dip of strata with abnormal pore pressure. After
Hubbert and Rubey (1959).

wrench faulting (Harding and Lowell, 1979) (Figure 9); (b)

axial collapse associated with subduction (Beck et ai, 1975)
(Figure 10); (c) uplift andlor arching of earlier formed
foldbelt.
LISTRIC NORMAL FAULTS
The flattening of the dip of a normal fault with depth
may reflect one or more environmental conditions or Figure 9-Seismlc cross section across wrench fault zone in Ard-
processes at depth. The first group is conditions that are more basin, Oklahoma, with flower structure which contains
minor listric normal faulting due to extension of Mississippian
inherent, that is, conditions that contributed to formation and older strata. After Harding and Lowell (1979).
of listric faults.
1. Increase in ductility in sedimentary prism, generally
involving thick overpressured shale andlor salt, with
extension of "overburden" due to flowage or decollement
of "substrate."
_ SEDIMENTARY FilL \ NORMAL FAULT
2. Increase in ductility in crust (with extension of ductile l11Zl ~2~J~~~~TAL
"substrate"). ~ OCEANIC BASEMENT \ THRUST

The second group includes processes that operated after

formation of the fault. This includes deformation of fault
by: Figure IO-Cross section of Andean orogene, showing measure
1. Compaction of shale in footwall (Figure 11). of bilateral symmetry, with two outer zones of compression and
axial zone(s) of block faulting, interpreted to include listric nor-
2. Arching during uplift initiated in rocks below the mal faults. After Beck et aI (1975).
fault (e.g., due to salt or igneous intrusion; Figure 8).
3. Increased tilting (with rotation about an axis parallel
with strike of fault) of entire upthrown fault block reflect-
ing movement along subjacent "underlying" fault (Roux,
1977) (Figure 12).
Theoretical and experimental data together with case
histories from foundation engineering suggest that the lis-
tric feature may be a basic element of some normal faults.
Included in the theoretical and experimental data demon-
strating, or allowing inference of, listricity in extensional SHALE AFTEIICOMI"ACTION

conditions are results of the following works:

1. One set of stress trajectories derived by Hafner
(1951). Figure II-Flattening of fault due to compaction of shale.
 John W. Shelton 805

----A - - __

B --

-0.- _
-E
-f---

-
8
E
""o
8
N
-
2000ft
500m

Figure 12-Seismic cross section of local structure in offshore Texas part of northern Gulf Coast basin, showing deformed fault due
to rotation of upthrown block reflected by attitude of strata 1-4. After Roux (1977).

2. Theoretical model for shale tectonics by Ode (Crans

et aI, 1980).
3. Geomechanical model by Crans et al (1980).
4. Theoretical considerations by Muehlberger (1961)
predicting decreasing dip angle of fracture surface with
increase in confining pressure.
5. Rock -mechanical experiments by Handin and Hager
(1957) showing decreasing angle of internal friction with
increase in confining pressure, and by von Karman (Han-
din and Hager, 1957) showing decrease in angle between
fracture surface and least principal stress axis with
increase in pressure.
Figure 13-A. Profile of slope before failure. B. Cross section of 6. Rock-mechanical experiment by Heard (1966) show-
clayey deposits after slide flow. After Longwell and Flint (1962, ing listric normal fault with distributed flow under high
p. 142·143). This type of failure, occurring where clays are very confining pressure and high temperature.
sensitive, is thought to be analogous to fracture (fault) and flow 7. Model experiment by H. Cloos (1930) simulating gra-
(incipient diapir) relationship of numerous sedimentary listric bens and rifts.
faults. 8. Model experiment by Rettger (1935) simulating fault-
ing due to gravitational gliding.
9. Model experiment by P. Diebold (Crans et ai, 1980)
simulating faulting due to loading.
10. Model experiments by E. Cloos (1968) simulating
growth faults.

E .:: GEOMETRY
08
f5 ~ 2000ft Dip
500m
TERTIARY - The dip of a listric fault flattens with depth, but it either
UPPER CRETACEOUS "dies out" in ductile rocks that deform by flowage or it
SHALE
becomes a decollement zone. There is a strong tendency to
consider the latter as the dominant disposition of a listric
fault. Where gentle regional dip exists, creep may contrib-
ute to development of decollement zones or sole ductile
faults. Yet, the relationship of listric faults to shale and salt
LOWER CRETACEOUS CARBONATE diapirs suggests that a fault-flow system (Figure 13),
which is analogous to the slide flow in soil mechanics, may
be very common. In terms used in foundation engineer-
ing, base failures, where the ductile substrate flows in
Figure 14-Cross section through Fashing field, south-central response to asymmetric loading, are probably more analo-
Texas, showing listric normal fault in Tertiary and Upper Creta- gous to listric sedimentary faults than slope failures, which
ceous shale. Dip of fault steepens with further depth in Lower are not necessarily bounded by listric surfaces. Flowage
Cretaceous carbonates. After Murray (1961). associated with base failure may be regarded as a form of
806 Listric Nmmal Faults

lateral "extrusion" that results in extension and subsi- 1965; Holmes, 1965; Anderson, 1971; Robson, 1971; Ste-
dence in the area of loading. Ductility of the substrate gen- wart, 1971), and from subsurface data in basins such as
erally reflects overpressure in shale and/or plasticity of the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, and coastal Nigeria (e.g.,
salt. Weber and Daukoru, 1976; Evamy et aI, 1978; Gallowayet
Some faults flatten at depth through a shale and steepen aI, 1982) (Figure 16). Several miscellaneous features are
below it (e.g., Murray, 1961)(Figure 14). That relationship noted below.
is generally attributable to shale compaction, but in places Arcuate sedimentary faults are probably common in del-
it may reflect a lower original angle of dip through the taic strata, whereas essentially straight fault traces may be

"-

~ ~- ~ --~ ~!
...........

,,~
A

B H. Cloos (1930) c
Figure I5-Configuration of listric normal faults in cross section. A. Triassic growth faults which are discontinuous (en echelon in
part). After Edwards (1976). B. Faults produced experimentally in small-scale clay models. After H. Cloos (1930) and E.Cloos
(1968). C. Proposed pattern of discontinuous en echelon faults comprising listric normal fault zone.

more ductile shale. Roux (1977) presents a very persuasive

case that shale compaction does significantly reduce the ./" ~
dip and throw. However, the listric nature of faults in rela-
tively brittle rocks and the listric nature of rotational slips ~~------------~~-- A
in foundation failures indicate that flattening of dip is an
inherent feature of many normal faults.
Dip of the steeper part of a listric normal fault com-
monly has been recorded as approximately 60 0 , following
the theoretical/experimental work of Anderson (1942)
and Hubbert (1951) and from subsurface data. However,
--?>~------------~~ B
some faults are near vertical at the surface or in the near
surface.
According to de Sitter (1964), the dip of a fault is gener-
ally steeper near its ends (along strike) and flatter along the
middle section, where throw is commonly greater.
Small-scale faults in Svalbard are zones which show en
echelon patterns in cross sectional view (Edwards, 1976)
(Figure 15A). This configuration is shown also in some of Figure 16-Map-view patterns of normal faults. A, Hypothetical
the experiments by H. Cloos (e.g., 1930) and E. Cloos subsidiary faults (after de Sitter, 1964); B, branches (or splays)
developed near ends of major faults. C. Oligocene fault pattern
(1968) (Figure 15B). It seems reasonable that some listric
in part of Texas Gulf Coast.
faults may in fact be zones composed of shorter faults,
some of which are listric (Figure 15C),
common in nondeltaic deposits. This difference may
Plan View reflect "point" loading in the former and "line" loading in
the latter. In map view, tilted upthrown fault blocks are
Local and regional normal fault pCltterns are well known generally convex in the direction of tilt (Moore, 1960). It is
from outcrops in the Middle Ea,l, east Africa, and the common for faults to branch or splay toward their ends or
western United States (e.g., de Sitter, 1964; Hamblin, to show subsidiary faults there (de Sitter, 1964) (Figure
 John W. Shelton 807

Figure 17--Contour map and cross section of listric normal fault at Lone Star field, northeast Texas. Fault is near vertical at surface,
which is strongly erosional. After Bunn (1951). Nacatoch Sand dips away from fault in both blocks, suggesting that it was part of
anticlinal feature at time faulting was initiated.

16). Although a fault zone may be very extensive, individ- faults immediately gulfward of younger faults.
ual faults within it may be very limited in length, and con-
tiguous (or successive) faults along strike may show some Propagation
overlap of their lengths. Also, in the Gulf of Mexico basin
where the age of major fault zones decreases gulfward Many faults are initiated in a local area and extend,
(generally basinward), a particular zone may contain older propagate, or grow laterally (de Sitter, 1964). With propa-
808 Listric Normal Faults

gation of a fault, one or both blocks may move in such a A B

way that the greatest displacement (shift) of the block(s) is
at or near the fault-a circumstance that results in reverse _A
drag in the active block(s), including possible rollover in
the downthrown block where the direction of dip of the _____ 6--~~---A---
fault is the same as regional dip. In an active upthrown
block, the most favorable area for trap development 8--

would correspond to the section of fault with most dis-

placement (Figure 3B).
Roux (1977) suggests that the throw of a fault not only Figure i8-Brancbing (horsetailing) of normal faults in cross
decreases laterally toward the ends but also both upward section. A. Late, downward borsetail fault in uptbrown block of
listric growth fault in Upper Tertiary of offsbore Texas. After
and downward. This type of fault configuration is an indi-
Roux (1977). B. Hypotbetical upward horsetail in downthrown
cation that the horizontal (plan view) fault pattern in some block of major fault.
cases may assist in estimating the general vertical geome-
try. This relation is inferred also from the work of Moore
(1960), who correlated the direction of convexity of
uplifted (upthrown) fault blocks with the direction of
fault-block tilt, although Stewart (1978) has noted that
other situations are common.
Propagation of a fault upward and/or downward is gen-
erally inferred to be along a continuous surface. However, 10pcriALK
LlEGEN
Roux (1977) and Crans et al (1980) suggest that fault prop-
agation is not that simple and that many individual faults
may compose a major fault as generally mapped. The en
echelon pattern has appeal because the propagation of an
existing listric fault upward or downward may require an
unrealistic geometry if that fault is one continuous sur-
face. For example, the Lone Star fault (Bunn, 1951) (Fig-
ure 17) and the Mount Enterprise fault zone (Jackson,
1982) in east Texas show very steep dips at the present sur- Figure 19-5eismic cross section of Argyll field, North Sea, with
face, and their upward extensions to the original surface listric fault bounding riftlike Central graben on west. After Pen-
before erosion would require an unusually large compo- nington (1975).
nent with near vertical dip. The same problem exists where
faults are characterized by many episodes of movement
during deposition. Therefore. it is suggested that en eche-
lon faults in cross section may comprise a zont; which is
generally shown as one continuous listric fault.!
Roux (1977) has documented relatively steep branch
(horsetail) faults which formed after compaction and flat-
tening of master faults (Figure 18A). This type of branch
may reflect reactivation of a fault which was initiated at or v';';';]
...... TERTIARY
10mi
Ly*~ CRETACEOUS ANO PRE-CRETACEOUS I
near the surface. Where faulting is initiated at depth, a 1D1<m '

branch fault may form in the downthrown block (Figure S PRE-CRETACEOUS

18B).
Hgure 2O-Schematic cross section of southern part of Bay of
Growth Faults Biscay showing listric faults which formed during rifting. After
Boillot et aI (1971).
If growth faults are defined as those which were active
during deposition, almost all normal faults are growth
faults because the downthrown block is a likely deposi- Evidence for Listric Faults
tional site. Listric growth faults seemingly are regarded by
most workers as a basic feature of regions where the faults The best types of evidence include abundant data on the
are considered to be sedimentary, but it is now reasonable position of fault surfaces in the subsurface, generally in an
to conclude that listric growth faults are common even oil or gas field, unusual outcrop data where local relief
where the faults offset the basement (Figures 19-23), It allows delineation of the fault surface with depth, and seis-
seems possible that a listric growth fault may represent a mic definition of the fault (Bally, 1983). Indirect, but not
zone of smaller listric faults or a zone of en echelon faults conclusive, evidence suggesting listric faults includes:
(Figure 24). A reason for that suggestion is that an original 1. Sharply arcuate fault patterns. '
listric fault surface. if extended during significant growth 2. Sharply arcuate uplifts or basins. I
(deposition) as a single continuous surface, would proba- 3. Increase in stratal dip in hanging walls with depth
bly not retain a realistic shape for a normal fault. together with increase in dip toward controlling growth
 John W. Shelton 809

'-'. -1'
---y--- ----
-----1------- ...
"-... _--

- - - - IIftR TERTIARY
- LOWER TERTIARY -CRETAClOUII

Figure 11-Selsmic cross section in central Mediterranean region Illustrating listric normal faults which formed during rifting.

TRIASSIC - _ _- - - - - : - - - - - - - - - ]
~_1L------_r-- 'ER~~-t----
--

~ WRENCH FAULT ZONE •

Figure ll-Seismic cross section across Tornquist·Teisseyre wrench fault zone separating Danish·Polish basin Oeft) from Fennoscan·
dian shield (right). Fault zone in cross section contains lower Paleozoic listric normal growth faults.

-------
++++
+++++51 ~
++++++1
&Om;

l:nl:1 Jurassic - Triassic

I++ +I Basement

Figure 13.....Palinspastic paleostructural cross section of eastern Fipre 24-Hypothetical configuration of growtb fault in cross
Italian Alps showing development of basin due to movement section showing propagation of individual listric faults within
along listric normal faults. After BernouUi et aI (1979). zone.

fault (reverse drag). cessively steeper dips in the dip direction of the faults)
4. Reverse drag in hanging wall where footwall strata (Wernicke and Burchfiel, 1982).
show no evidence of rotation about an axis parallel to the 6. Progradational stratigraphic succession, with thick
strike of the fault. If strata in the subsurface were inclined ductile shale below brittle sandstone.
before faulting, the attitude of these beds with respect to Planar faults rather than listric faults may form where
the fault may not be a criterion for a listric fault. For the affected strata are entirely brittle (i.e., fault dies out
example, the Nacatoch in Figure 17 dips away from the lis- above any ductile rocks) or, in some cases, where the fault
tric fault. Also, it should be noted that absolute movement has not been deformed. -
of the downthrown block from geometric considerations OCCURRENCES
could result in reverse drag along a planar fault with signif-
icant lateral changes in throw (Figure 2S). In terms of global tectonics,listric normal faults occur:
S. Differential tilt between imbricate fault blocks (suc- 1. In rifts within various geologic settings. Some may
810 Listric Normal Faults

precede formation of passive con:inental margi!t~ ,t.g.,

Bally et al, 1981; Harding, 1983)
2. On passive continental margins during drifting as
they form and subside.
3. As sedimentary faults related to subsidence of passive
continental margins (e.g., Bruce, 1973; Bally et aI, 1981),
with "base failure" (involving overpressured shale and a
salt) or gravity sliding. Hgure 25-Hypothetical structure map and cross section show-
4. In deformed basins, including those which formed ing reverse drag along a planar normal fault due to movement of
along passive margins (miogeosynclines) (Ballyet al, 1981) down thrown block of areally restricted fault.

A
OLIGOCENE
- - - - - - - - - E O C E N E - - - - ___ _

E~
00
OLIGOCENE
0" ______ .!.OCENE
~ 4000ft
1000m

-------_______ OLIGOCENE
~======================::.:::;l-- EOCENE--

E§
S§ 4000ft
o
1000 m
c
Figure 26-Cross sections A and B across Vicksburg flexure. Significant subregional displacement across this fault lone, with inter-
pretive listric faults, apparently reflects basinal development. C. Schematic cross section showing possible relationship between major
fault in basinal development Oike that reflected by Vicksburg flexure) and sedimentary faults. After unpublished Shell Oil Co. report.

Sm;
1 mi
Skm
1 km i

Figure 27-Seismic cross section of listric sedimentary growth

faults due to salt and shale flowage. Area is outer continental Figure 28-Cross section of Valentine salt dome, La Fourche
shelf in offshore southeast Texas and Louisiana where diapiric Parish, Louisiana, with listric normal fault associated with dia-
uplifts are semicontinuous. After Woodbury et al (1973). piric shale and salt. After Halbouty (1979).
 John W. Shelton 811

tral Mediterranean (Figure 21); Gulf of Suez (Lowell and

Genik, 1972; Lowell et ai, 1975; interpretation of Robson,
1971, by Harding and Lowell, 1979; Harding, 1983); Lake
Superior Precambrian rift (Weiblen and Morey, 1980); and
Rio Grande rift (Brown et aI, 1983).

2.0 sec Passive Continental Margins

Falvey (l974)*uggested that rifted stratigraphic sections

and basement on passive margins commonly underlie less
/ DUCTILE
I deformed sequences which formed during "drifting."
/
, / SHALE Although the subsidence of passive margins undoubtedly
.- reflects to some extent isostatic adjustment to the load of
..... _-_ ... ./ the sedimentary prism (Dietz, 1963; Hsu, 1965; Bott,
5mi 4.0 sec
5km 1978), subsidence to significant depths is thought to be by
movement along basement faults (e.g., Shelton, 1968). It
Figure 29-Seismic cross section of offshore Texas showing lis- is suggested that these faults may be listric (Figure 26), that
tric normal faults above ductile shale, which probably is incipient they are similar to and possible outgrowths of faults
diapir. After Bruce (1973). bounding rifts at earlier stages, and that they may be ulti-

OLIGOCENE SAND WITH SHALE

EOCENE SHALE

/"
/
/
/

Figure 30-Cross section of North Maude Traylor field, Jackson and Calhoun Counties, Texas. listric normal fault is related to
flowage of ductile Eocene shale. After unpublished Shell Oil Co. report.

or as foredeeps. mately responsible for sedimentary faults where ductile

5. As late-orogenic and postorogenic faults after earlier strata are thick owing to movement along this type of fault
formation of foldbelts-very similar tCJ rifts (Bally et ai, during deposition (Figure 26C). Basement-involved faults
1981). in this type of setting are illustrated by Morgan and Dow-
6. In axial zones of oro genes on active continental mar- dall (1983) from Baltimore Canyon Trough, and by Petro-
gins (Beck et ai, 1975). bras (1983) from Potiguar basin, offshore Brazil.
7. Along transform fault boundaries as a result of tran-
stension or in extended upper part of transpressional Sedimentary Faults on Passive Margins
(flower) structures.
Deformation of progradational sedimentary sequences
Rifts on passive margins may be dominated by half grabens,
reverse drag, and rollover related to listric normal faults,
Examples of rifts, excluding postorogenic faults, where which commonly are associated with overpressured or dia-
listric normal faults are fairly well documented or where piric shale or salt diapirs, and which were active during
interpretation of them from available data is reasonable, deposition. The best known areas for this type of defor-
include North Sea (e.g., Bowen, 1975; Pennington, 1975; mation with listric growth faults are the northern Gulf of
Evans and Parkinson, 1983; Harding, 1983) (Figure 19); Mexico (Figures 6, 27-30) and the Niger Delta (e.g., Har-
Bay of Biscay (Boillot et aI, 1971; de Charpal et ai, 1978; din and Hardin, 1961; Ocamb, 1961; Bruce, 1973; Busch,
Montadert et ai, 1979) (Figure 20); offshore eastern 1975; Lehner and de Ruiter, 1977; Curtis and Picou, 1978;
United States (Sheridan, 1974; 1977; Crutcher, 1983); cen- Evamy et ai, 1978; Raux, 1979). Other areas are Sarawak
 812 Listric Normal Faults

PURCELL GALTON
RANGE RANGE

PCmsed
."-.. PCmsed
."",.~

"- .....
::: E "
80 08
... C')

5mi
5km

------
PCmsed Pf\EC~t-/lSf\\
~N SHIELD
- PCmsed PRECAMBRIAN METASEDIMENTS
PURCELL LAVA
'-,~".

Figure 31-Seismic cross section across Rocky Mountain trench in southwestern Canada showing listric normal fault which devel-
oped by opposite movement (backslippage) along earlier listric thrust fault. After Bally et al (1966).

NNW SSE
UPPER MIDDLE ATOKA DATUM

='=-=-~~~C~-:--=-~-===~-~=-=-~-~-~~-~-~~~=='-=- \ MIDDLE ATOKA SANDSTONE SECTION

§LE " WAPANUCKA

~ 100m ~
500ft '"

Figure 32-Paleostructural cross section of part of Arkoma basin, Oklahoma, with Atokan (Pennsylvanian) listric normal growth
rault. After G. W. Hart (1978; personal communication, 1983).

and Sabah, east Malaysia (Schuab and Jackson, 1958; studies documenting listric normal faults in this region
Scherer, 1980), offshore Brazil (Brown and Fisher, 1977), include those of Mackin (1960), Moore (1960), Osmond
offshore eastern North America (Jansa and Wade, 1975; (1960), Hamblin (1965), Hamilton and Myers (1966),
Sheridan, 1977), and North Sea (Gibbs, 1983). Anderson (1971), Armstrong (1972), MacDonald (1976),
Proffett (1977), Bally et al (1981), and Robison (1983). It is
Late-Orogenic to Postorogenic Faults suggested that listric normal faults in this tectonic setting
may be common in many orogenic belts. Listric faults may
Bailey et al (1981) described examples of listric normal bound some grabens and half grabens in which the Trias-
faults from western North America which may be interre- sic of the Appalachian system is present (Barrell, 1915;
lated. These include (1) faults that may represent opposite King, 1959, p. 50). As noted previously, faults in this type
movement ("backslippage") along preexisting listric of setting may be parts of rift systems; correspondingly,
thrust faults (Bally et aI, 1966; Royse et aI, 1975; Allmen- the Triassic would be related to rifting which preceded
dinger et al, 1983) (Figure 31); (2) rifts, horsts1i.nd grabens, opening of the Atlantic.
and half grabens; and (3) two types of faults in a mountain Axial Zones of Orogenes
and valley system, with (a) an older decollement zone
exposed in the mountain and (b) younger listric faults of In regard to subduction zones of island arcs, Beck et al
the valley which may offset the decollement and contrib- (1975) have proposed that Pacific island arcs show a cen-
ute further to basinal development in the valley. tral collapse zone. The Andean orogene also contains an
This region is where some of the early studies demon- axial zone of block faulting and collapse (Figure 10). This
strated tilted fault blocks and low-angle listric normal zone apparently has a causal relationship to a young vol-
faults (Davis, 1925; Longwell, 1933, 1945). Additional canic belt.
 John W. Shelton 813

Transform Boundaries and Strike-Slip Faults the Sevier orogenic belt, eastern Nevada and western Utah: GSA Bul-
letin, v. 83, p. 1729-1754.
Bally, A. W., ed., 1983, Seismic expression of structural styles: AAPG
Normal faults may form as a result of transtension asso- Studies in Geology 15, vs. 1-2.
ciated with lateral movement-transform and/or strike- - - D. Bernoulli, G. A. Davis, and 1. Montadert, 1981, Listric nor-
slip fault zones (Wilcox et al, 1973) (Figure 5). These mal faults: Oceanologica Acta, 26th International Geological Con-
normal faults may be listric (e.g., Southwest Lone Grove gress. Paris, 1980, p. 87-101.
field, southern Oklahoma; Westheimer and Schweers, - - P. L. Gordy, and G. A. Stewart, 1966, Structure, seismic data and
orogenic evolution of southern Canadian Rocky Mountains: Bulletin
1956). Those superimposed on a more fundamental of Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 14, p. 337-381.
crustal wrench or transform fault zone may be large-scale Beck, R. H., P. Lehner, P. Diebold, G. Bakker, and H. Doust, 1975, New
features (Figure 22). geophysical data on key problems on global tectonics: 9th World
In areas of transpression, normal faults in the extended Petroleum Congress Proceedings, Tokyo, v. 2, p. 3-17. London,
Applied Science Publishers Ltd.
part of the uplifted flower structure may possibly be listric Bernoulli, D., C. Caron, P. Homewood, O. Kiiglin, and J. Van Stuijven-
(Figure 9), similar to those associated with compressional berg, 1979. Evolution of continental margins in the Alps: Schweizeris-
folding or extension over salt or igneous intrusives. che Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, v. 59, p.
165-170,
Deformed Basins Boillot, G,. p. A. Dupeuble, M. Lamboy, et ai, 1971, Structure et histoire
geologique de la marge continentale au nord d l'Espagne (entre 4° et
9°W). in Histoire structurale du Golfe de Gascogne: Institut Fran~ois
Faults in these settings are essentially of the same types as duPetwle, Collected Colloquial Seminars, no. 22, v. 22, p. V6-1-V6-
those which formed during rifting and drifting. Bernoulli 52.
et al (1979) have mapped Mesozoic listric normal growth Bott, M. H. p', 1978, Subsidence mechanisms at passive continental mar-
gins, in Geological and geophysical investigations of continental mar-
faults in the eastern Italian Alps (Figure 23). These faults gins: AAPG Memoir 29, p. 3-9.
affect a dominantly carbonate section. Woodward (1961) Bowen, J. M., 1975, The Brent field, in A.W. Woodland, ed., Petroleum
and Wagner (1976) have described growth faults affecting and the continental shelf of north-west Europe: New York, John
the lower Paleozoic section in the Appalachian basin; they Wiley and Sons, p. 353-362.
Brown, L. D.,S.Kaufman, and J. t:, Oliver, 1983, COCORP seismictra-
may well be listric. verse across the Rio Grande rift, in Seismic expression of structural
The Arkoma basin of Oklahoma and Arkansas was a styles: AAPG Studies in Geology 15, v. 2, p. 2.2.1-1-2.2.1-6.
foredeep during the Atokan (Pennsylvanian), when both Brown, 1. F., Jr., and W. L. Fisher, 1977, Seismic-stratigraphic interpre-
basement faults and listric sedimentary faults were active tation of depositional systems-examples from Brazilian rift and
(G. W. Hart, personal communication, 1983) (Figure 32). pull-apart basins, in Seismic stratigraphy-applications to hydrocar-
bon exploration: AAPG Memoir 26. p. 213-248.
The latter type is very similar to those of the Gulf of Mex- Bruce, C. H., 1973, Pressured shale and related sediment deformation-
ico basin. mechanisms for development of regional contemporaneous faults:
AAPG Bulletin, v. 57, p. 878-886.
CONCLUSIONS Bunn, J. R., 1951, Lone Star field, in F. A. Herold, ed., Occurrence of oil
and gas in northeast Texas: University of Texas Publication 5116, p.
Listric normal faults may be an integral part of basinal 195·200.
development, and formation of several types of struc- Burchfiel, B. C., and L. Royden, 1982, Carpathian foreland fold and
tures, with potential for entrapment of hydrocarbons, thrust belt and its relation to Pannonian and other basins: AAPG Bul-
results from movement along them. Listric normal faults letin, v. 66, p. 1179-1195.
occur in the various geologic settings reflecting exten- Busch, D. A., 1975, Influence of growth faulting on sedimentation and
prospect evaluation: AAPG Bulletin, v. 59, p. 217-230.
sional stress reaimes that are crustal and/or relatively Carey, S. W., 1958, The tectonic approach to continental drift, in S. W.
superficial (restricted to the sedimentary prism). Their for- Carey, ed., Continental drift-a symposium: Hobart, Australia, Uni-
mation is enhanced by, or perhaps requires, a ductile "sub- versity of Tasmania, p. 173-363.
strate." Cloos, E., 1968, Experimental analysis of Gulf Coast fracture patterns:
AAPG Bulletin, v. 52, p. 420-444.
The detailed three-dimensional geometry of listric faults Cloos, H., 1930, Zur experiment ellen Tektonik: Naturwissenschaften, v.
may be expressive of subsidiary structures with some 18, p. 741-747.
exploration or development potential. For example, short Cohen, C. R., 1982, Model for a passive to active continental margin
en echelon faults in cross section may constitute a zone, transition: implications for hydrocarbons exploration: AAPG Bulle-
and define tilted fault blocks which are areallyand strati- tin, v. 66, p. 708-718.
Crans, W., G. Mandl, and J. Haremboure, 1980, On the theory of growth
graphically restricted. Further, splays or subsidiary faults, faulting-a geomechanical delta model based on gravity sliding:
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27-2.2.3-29.
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 John W. Shelton 815

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