Classifying

Geological
Faults
Agenda
• Introduction to Geological • Quiz: Question 1
Faults • Quiz: Question 2
• Types of Geological Faults • Quiz: Question 3
• Normal Faults • Quiz: Question 4
• Reverse Faults • Quiz: Question 5
• Strike-Slip Faults • Quiz: Question 6
• Fault Plane Angles • Quiz: Question 7
• Direction of Slip • Quiz: Question 8
• Identifying Normal Faults • Conclusion
• Identifying Reverse Faults • Q&A
• Identifying Strike-Slip Faults
Introduction to Geological Faults
Geological faults are fractures in the Earth's
crust where rocks have slipped past each
other.
They are formed due to tectonic forces and can
occur at various angles and directions of slip.
Studying faults helps us understand seismic
activity, predict earthquakes, and explore
natural resources.
Types of Geological Faults
Normal Faults Reverse Faults Strike-Slip
Faults
Occur when the Form when the Characterized
crust is crust is by horizontal
extended. The compressed. movement. The
hanging wall The hanging crustal blocks
moves down wall moves up slide past each
relative to the relative to the other. Common
footwall. footwall. Often in transform
Common in found in areas boundaries.
areas of of compression.
 Normal Faults
Characteristics and Formation of Normal Faults

● Normal faults occur when the crust is

extended and one block of rock drops down
relative to the other.
● They are characterized by a steeply
inclined fault plane, usually with an angle
greater than 45 degrees.
● These faults typically form in regions
experiencing tensional stress, such as
divergent plate boundaries.
● The hanging wall block moves downward
relative to the footwall block.
Reverse Faults
Characteristics and Formation of Reverse
Faults
● Reverse faults occur where two blocks of the earth's crust are pushed
together.
● The hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall due to
compressional forces.
● Typically form in regions experiencing compressional stress, such as
convergent plate boundaries.
● Commonly associated with mountain building and earthquakes.
● Result in a shortening of the crust and are inclined at more than 45
degrees.
Strike-Slip Faults
Characteristics and Formation

● Strike-slip faults are characterized by horizontal movement along the fault

plane.
● They form due to shear stress, which causes rock bodies to slide past each
other laterally.
● The fault plane is typically vertical or near-vertical, with the slip direction
being parallel to the Earth's surface.
● Strike-slip faults can be either right-lateral (dextral) or left-lateral (sinistral),
depending on the direction of movement.
● Major strike-slip faults include the San Andreas Fault in California and the
North Anatolian Fault in Turkey.
Fault Plane Angles
Significance of Fault Plane
Angles Classifying Faults by Angle

• Fault plane angles determine • Normal faults have steep

the type of fault. angles, typically between 45°
• High-angle faults (>45°) are to 90°.
usually normal or reverse • Reverse faults also have
faults. steep angles but in the
• Low-angle faults (<45°) often opposite slip direction.
indicate thrust faults. • Thrust faults are a type of
reverse fault with angles less
than 45°.
Direction of Slip
Horizontal Slip Vertical Slip

Occurs parallel to the Occurs perpendicular

Earth's surface to the Earth's surface
Classifies strike-slip Classifies normal and
faults reverse faults
Examples: San Examples: Basin and
Andreas Fault (right- Range Province
lateral) (normal), Himalayan
Fault (reverse)
 Identifying Normal Faults
Recognize Fault Identify Hanging &
Plane Footwall
Identify the plane along which the Identify the hanging wall and the
rock masses have slipped. Normal footwall. In a normal fault, the hanging
faults typically have steep dips wall moves downward relative to the
ranging from 45° to 90°. footwall.

Fault plane identification Hanging wall identification

Measurement of dip angle Footwall identification
 Identifying Normal Faults
Confirm Extension
Measure Slip Direction Environment
Measure the direction of slip Verify that the faulting occurred in
along the fault plane. In normal an extensional tectonic regime,
faults, the slip is vertical, with which is characterized by the
the hanging wall moving stretching and thinning of the
downwards. Earth's crust.
Slip direction measurement Tectonic setting analysis
Vertical displacement data Confirmation of extensional
environment
 Identifying Reverse Faults

Determine Fault Angle Analyze Hanging Wall

Identify the angle of the fault Observe the movement of the
plane relative to the horizontal. hanging wall. In reverse faults, the
Reverse faults typically have a hanging wall moves upward relative
steep angle, usually greater to the footwall.
than 45 degrees.
Measured fault plane angle Movement direction report
Recorded observations Annotated diagrams
 Identifying Reverse Faults
Examine Geological Verify with Seismic
Layers Data
Check the displacement of Use seismic data to confirm the
geological layers. In reverse fault type. Look for
faults, older layers are pushed compressional stress indicators
above younger layers.
in the seismic readings.
Geological layer analysis Seismic data interpretation
Stratigraphic cross-sections Stress analysis report
 Identifying Strike-Slip Faults

Observe Surface Features Measure Fault Plane Angle

Examine the landscape for linear Use geological tools to measure the
features such as fences, roads, or angle of the fault plane. Strike-slip
streams that appear offset or faults typically have vertical or near-
displaced. vertical fault planes.

Photographic evidence Angle measurement data

Field notes on observed Diagrams of fault plane
displacements Geological report
Mapping of surface features
 Identifying Strike-Slip Faults

Determine Slip
Direction Analyze Seismic Data
Identify the horizontal movement Review seismic activity
direction of the fault blocks.
Determine if the slip is left- records to identify
lateral (sinistral) or right-lateral characteristic strike-slip
(dextral). motion patterns.
Slip direction analysis Seismic activity logs
Annotated diagrams showing slip
Graphical representation of
direction
Comparison with regional tectonic seismic events
settings Correlation with fault slip
patterns
Quiz: Question 1

Fault Classification Criteria Question

Fault plane angle is 60° Based on the criteria,

classify the type of fault.
Hanging wall moves
downward relative to A) Normal Fault
footwall B) Reverse Fault
Occurs in an extensional
C) Strike-Slip Fault
tectonic setting
Quiz: Question 2

Fault Description Question

This fault has a steep fault What type of fault is

plane angle. described?
The hanging wall moves A) Normal Fault
down relative to the B) Reverse Fault
footwall.
C) Strike-Slip Fault
Commonly found in areas
experiencing extensional
forces.
Quiz: Question 3

Question Options
• A fault has a dip angle of • A) Normal Fault
45 degrees. • B) Reverse Fault
• The hanging wall moves • C) Strike-Slip Fault
down relative to the
footwall. • D) Oblique Fault
• Classify the type of fault.
Quiz: Question 4

Quiz Question Answer Options

• Identify the type of fault where • A. Normal Fault
the hanging wall moves
• B. Reverse Fault
downward relative to the footwall.
• C. Strike-Slip Fault
• Consider the angle of the fault
plane and the direction of slip. • D. Oblique-Slip Fault
• This type of fault is commonly
found in regions experiencing
extensional tectonics.
Quiz: Question 5

Question Options
• A fault has a plane angle of • A) Normal Fault
30 degrees. • B) Reverse Fault
• The hanging wall moves
• C) Strike-Slip Fault
downward relative to the
footwall. • D) Oblique-Slip Fault
• Classify this fault based on
the given criteria.
Quiz: Question 6

Question Options

• A fault is observed with a • A. Normal Fault

fault plane angle of 30 • B. Reverse Fault
degrees.
• C. Strike-Slip Fault
• The hanging wall has
moved downward relative • D. Oblique-Slip Fault
to the footwall.
• Classify the type of fault.
Quiz: Question 7

Fault Classification Options

A fault has a dip angle of 60 A) Normal Fault
degrees.
B) Reverse Fault
The hanging wall moves
C) Strike-Slip Fault
down relative to the footwall.
D) Oblique-Slip Fault
Classify this fault type.
Quiz: Question 8

Fault Details Question

• Fault plane angle: 70 • Based on the provided
degrees criteria, classify the
• Direction of slip: Left- fault.
lateral • Is it a Normal,
• Depth of fault: 10 km Reverse, or Strike-Slip
fault?
• Explain your
reasoning.
Conclusion

Geological Classifying Accurate fault

faults are faults by fault classification is
fractures in plane angle crucial for
Earth's crust and direction assessing
where blocks of slip helps in earthquake
of rock have understanding risks and
slipped past tectonic planning
each other. activities. construction
projects.
Q&A
● What are the different types of geological faults?
● How do the angle of the fault plane and the direction of
slip classify faults?
● Can you provide examples of real-world locations where
these faults are found?
● What are the implications of these faults on human
activities and infrastructure?
● How can we identify faults in the field or through
geological surveys?