Fault

Faille

A fault is a fracture in rock along which movement has occurred (at least 0.5 mm of displacement between two blocks).

Fault types

The three principal types of faults are:

• normal fault
• reverse fault
• strike-slip fault (dextral or senestral)

Anatomy

The central zone, where most of the movement is taking place, is called the fault core. Around it is the damage zone (brittle) and then the drag zone (ductile).

Linked terms

• Fault types :normal fault/reverse fault/strike-slip fault
• Markers : tectoglyph / striae / Frictional wear groove

Source

• Cours de M.Ford La déformation fragile : Fractures et failles
• Structural geology, by H. Fossen

Retour au module Géologie structurale