answersLogoWhite

0

Strike-Slip, Reverse, and Normal Faults.

A more detailed answer
There are broadly 5 types of fault. These include the following:

  • Dip-slip faults
  • Strike-slip / transcurrent faults
  • Oblique-slip faults
  • Listric fault
  • Ring fault

Dip slip faults are those where the relative motion on the fault is broadly vertical. Examples include normal faults where the hanging wall moves down relative to the foot wall. Reverse faults have the opposite sense of motion, with the hangingwall moving up relative to the footwall. Thrust faults are a special type of reverse fault where the dip of the fault plane is at a shallower angle than 45 degrees from the horizontal.

Strike slip or transcurrent faults are those where the relative motion on the fault is broadly horizontal. The fault plane in these types of faults is normally near vertical and the sense of motion is described in terms of the relative movement of the rockmass on the far side of the fault plane. If this relative movement is to the left, then it is known as a sinistral fault. If the motion is to the right it is a dextral fault.

Oblique slip faults are those which have a significant component of both vertical and horizontal movement. They can be thought of as a composite of the dip slip and strike slip faults.

Listric faults are characterised by a curved fault plane surface. They usually start off relatively steep and then become more shallow with increased depth and may ultimately become horizontal.

Ring faults are a special type of fault associated with the formation of a caldera during the collapse of a volcano.
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?