In A Normal Fault The Hanging Wall

A normal fault is a result of the.

In a normal fault the hanging wall.

Normal faults are common. A geologic fault in which the hanging wall has moved downward relative to the footwall. Where the fault plane is sloping as with normal and reverse faults. Normal fault synonyms normal fault pronunciation normal fault translation english dictionary definition of normal fault.

Given the angle of the fault the upper red line is on the footwall the lower red line is on the hanging wall. In a normal fault the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall. The main components of a fault are 1 the fault plane 2 the fault trace 3 the hanging wall and 4 the footwall. An example of a normal fault is the infamous san andreas fault in california.

The opposite is a reverse fault in which the hanging wall moves up instead of down. A downthrown block between two normal faults dipping towards each other is a graben. They bound many of the mountain ranges of the world and many of the rift valleys found along spreading margins. The hanging wall slides down relative to the footwall.

The red lines show the offset on the right hand fault. An upthrown block between two normal faults dipping away from each other is a horst. The line it makes on the earth s surface is the fault trace. Normal dip slip faults are produced by vertical compression as earth s crust lengthens.

It is a flat surface that may be vertical or sloping. Low angle normal faults with regional tectonic significance may be designated detachment faults. Normal faults often occur in pairs with one being the main fault and the other being a smaller conjuagate fault.