A Graben is the result of a block of land being downthrown producing a valley with a distinct scarp or "escarpment" on each side. An example would be a rift valley such as the Jordan valley (containing the dead sea) or the East African rift valley system or the Rio Grande Rift in New Mexico and west Texas.
Grabens often occur side-by-side with Horsts. (see related link below).
A Horst is the reverse of a Graben, it forms as a residual elevated block of land left between the formation of two parallel Graben. An example of a Horst would be the Black Forrest mountains, and the Ruwenzori Range.
At divergent boundaries, land features associated with orogenesis include rift valleys and mid-ocean ridges. These features form as tectonic plates move apart, causing the crust to stretch and fracture, leading to the creation of new crust and landforms.
These down-dropped blocks of crust are called grabens. Grabens are formed by the extensional forces that cause the crust to stretch and create space for the down-dropped blocks between the steeply dipping normal faults.
Uplifted blocks are called horsts. They are characterized by being elevated relative to the surrounding areas due to tectonic forces, often created by the movement of faults.
A trench between two parallel faults in the earth's crust is called a graben. Grabens are formed by the downward movement of blocks of land between normal faults.
An uplifted block bounded by two reverse faults is known as a horst. It is a raised area of land between two parallel faults where the central block has moved upward relative to the blocks on either side. Horsts are common features in regions where tectonic forces cause the Earth's crust to compress and deform.
Normal
Horsts and grabens are geological formations resulting from tectonic activity. A horst is an elevated block of the Earth's crust, while a graben is a depressed block between two horsts. These features commonly occur in regions experiencing extensional tectonics, such as the East African Rift Valley and the Basin and Range Province in the western United States. They are characterized by parallel mountain ranges (horsts) and valleys (grabens) formed due to the movement of tectonic plates.
In the Tr-State area, particularly around the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut region, notable grabens and horsts can be found in the Appalachian Mountains. The Newark Basin represents a significant graben, characterized by its down-dropped block of land between two fault systems. Conversely, the surrounding highlands, such as the Watchung Mountains, are examples of horsts, which are elevated blocks of the Earth's crust that have remained uplifted relative to the down-dropped grabens. These geological features illustrate the complex tectonic history of the region.
Horsts and grabens are typically found in regions experiencing tectonic activity, particularly in areas undergoing extensional tectonics. They are commonly associated with continental rift zones, such as the East African Rift, where the Earth's crust is being pulled apart. Horsts are raised blocks of crust, while grabens are the lowered blocks between them, forming a characteristic landscape of alternating elevated and depressed areas. This geological feature can also occur in other tectonic settings, including fault zones.
At divergent boundaries, land features associated with orogenesis include rift valleys and mid-ocean ridges. These features form as tectonic plates move apart, causing the crust to stretch and fracture, leading to the creation of new crust and landforms.
The basin and range province is characterized by horst and graben topography, resulting from the presence of many normal faults. Horsts are uplifted blocks of crust, while grabens are down-dropped blocks, creating alternating mountain ranges and valleys across the region.
A Graben can produce a Normal Fault.
The Balcones Fault Zone is a geological fault line in Texas that runs from the southwest part of the state to the north-central region. It is known for causing seismic activity and creating unique features in the landscape, such as the Balcones Escarpment. The fault zone is significant for shaping the geology of central Texas and influencing groundwater resources in the region.
Both structures are formed as a result of large scale (regional) normal faulting. Graben are "valley" features and Horsts are "mountain" features.A Graben is the result of a block of land being downthrown producing a valley with a distinct scarp or "escarpment" on each side. An example would be a rift valley such as the Jordan valley (containing the dead sea) or the East African rift valley system.Grabens often occur side-by-side with Horsts. (see related link below).A Horst is the reverse of a Graben, it forms as a residual elevated block of land left between the formation of two parallel Graben. An example of a Horst would be the Black Forrest mountains, and the Ruwenzori Range.Please note that both features are NOT produce by tension, NO point on the Earth's crust can be in tension. However they do form in areas of crustal extension where the principal (maximum) stress is vertical (gravity).
In a fault-block mountain, rocks are uplifted along fault lines, creating a mountain range with steep slopes on one side and more gradual slopes on the other. The uplift is typically caused by tectonic forces, with the hanging wall moving up relative to the footwall along a normal fault. This results in distinctive features like horsts (uplifted blocks) and grabens (down-dropped blocks) within the mountain range.
A graben is bounded on each side by normal faults and upthrown crustal blocks known as horsts.
These down-dropped blocks of crust are called grabens. Grabens are formed by the extensional forces that cause the crust to stretch and create space for the down-dropped blocks between the steeply dipping normal faults.