Plate Tectonics Questions Medium
The process of fault formation is known as faulting, which occurs when there is a break or fracture in the Earth's crust along which rocks on either side move relative to each other. Faults are typically formed due to the tectonic forces acting on the Earth's crust, such as compression, tension, or shear stress.
There are three main types of faults: normal faults, reverse faults, and strike-slip faults. Normal faults occur when the hanging wall (the block of rock above the fault) moves downward relative to the footwall (the block of rock below the fault) due to tensional forces. Reverse faults, on the other hand, occur when the hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall due to compressional forces. Lastly, strike-slip faults occur when rocks on either side of the fault move horizontally past each other due to shear stress.
The formation of faults can lead to various geological features, such as mountains, valleys, and rift zones. These faults play a crucial role in the movement and redistribution of Earth's crustal plates, contributing to the overall process of plate tectonics.