A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust across which there has been relative movement, in which rocks of lower stratigraphic position are pushed up and over higher strata. They are often recognized because they place older rocks above younger. Thrust faults are the result of compressional forces.
Thrust geometry and nomenclature
Reverse faults
Thrust faults are a special class of "reverse faulting" that typically have low dip angles. It is often hard to recognize thrusts because their deformation and dislocation can be difficult to detect when they occur within the same rocks without appreciable offset of lithological contacts.
If the angle of the fault plane is low (generally less than 20 degrees from the horizontal) and the displacement of the overlying block is large (often in the kilometer range) the fault is called an overthrust. Erosion can remove part of the overlying block, creating a fenster (or window) when the underlying block is only exposed in a relatively small area. When erosion removes most of the overlying block, leaving only island-like remnants resting on the lower block, the remnants are called klippen (singular klippe).
www.iris.edu/earthquake
This was created using excerpts from the longer animation called, “Earthquake Faults, Plate Boundaries, & Stress” [to be released September 2019; STAY TUNED!!]
A fault is a rock fracture where the two sides have been displaced relative to each other. Faults are categorized into three general groups based on the sense of slip or movement.
Normal fault—the block above the inclined fault moves down relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is caused by tensional forces and results in extension. [Other names: normal-slip fault, tensional fault or gravity fault] Examples include Basin & Range faults.
Reverse fault—the block above the inclined fault moves up relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is caused by compressional forces and re...
published: 10 Sep 2019
Thrust Fault Animation
published: 24 Dec 2020
Thrust fault
Thrust fault
published: 22 Apr 2013
Theme 13 Thrust Faults
How do thrust faults make mountains?
published: 28 Jan 2021
🌏What is a Fault? What is a Faultline? What is a Fault on Earth’s surface? #fault #faultline #earth
Blocks of land can move in several different ways relative to each other during an earthquake. This video shows the different types of motion.
00:07 Normal fault
Normal fault motion is where one overlying block of land moves or slides down relative to the lower block. This is a vertical movement.
The Taupō Volca no Zone is an extensional rift zone and normal faulting is common in this region. The M6.5 Edgecumbe 1987 earthquake is an example of normal faulting.
00:16 Reverse fault
A reverse fault is where one block of land moves over top of the other one. A thrust fault is a certain type of reverse faulting where the angle of movement is less than 45 degrees.
Reverse faulting occurs all over New Zealand. Many shallow earthquakes are reverse faulting, including the M6.2 Christchurc...
published: 26 Aug 2021
Folding/thrust faulting demo sandbox
Original from Marco Martins-Ferreria https://twitter.com/GeologyMarco/status/1232618566987501568
Stabilization courtesy of Anna Williams, https://twitter.com/AnnaProgw/status/1233297752919986179
published: 28 Feb 2020
Types of Geologic Faults
published: 20 May 2022
Types of Faults in Geology
Types of Faults in Geology explained and animated.
In this video, I cover strike-slip fault, normal fault and reverse fault.
published: 12 Jan 2020
Thrust fault Meaning
Video shows what thrust fault means. A type of reverse fault in which the angle that the hanging wall makes with the horizontal is less than 45 degrees.. Thrust fault Meaning. How to pronounce, definition audio dictionary. How to say thrust fault. Powered by MaryTTS, Wiktionary
www.iris.edu/earthquake
This was created using excerpts from the longer animation called, “Earthquake Faults, Plate Boundaries, & Stress” [to be released Septem...
www.iris.edu/earthquake
This was created using excerpts from the longer animation called, “Earthquake Faults, Plate Boundaries, & Stress” [to be released September 2019; STAY TUNED!!]
A fault is a rock fracture where the two sides have been displaced relative to each other. Faults are categorized into three general groups based on the sense of slip or movement.
Normal fault—the block above the inclined fault moves down relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is caused by tensional forces and results in extension. [Other names: normal-slip fault, tensional fault or gravity fault] Examples include Basin & Range faults.
Reverse fault—the block above the inclined fault moves up relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is caused by compressional forces and results in shortening. A reverse fault is called a thrust fault if the dip of the fault plane is small. [Other names: reverse-slip fault or compressional fault.] Examples include the Rocky Mountains and the Himalayan Mountains.
Strike-slip fault—movement of blocks along a fault is horizontal and the fault plane is nearly vertical. If the block on the far side of the fault moves to the left, as shown in this animation, the fault is called left-lateral (Figure 2). If it moves to the right, the fault is called right-lateral. The fault motion of a strike-slip fault is caused by shearing forces. [Other names: trans current fault, lateral fault, tear fault or wrench fault.] Examples include the San Andreas Fault, California; Anatolian Fault, Turkey.
Narrated by Dr. Wendy Bohon
Animated by Jenda Johnson, Earth Sciences Animated
www.iris.edu/earthquake
This was created using excerpts from the longer animation called, “Earthquake Faults, Plate Boundaries, & Stress” [to be released September 2019; STAY TUNED!!]
A fault is a rock fracture where the two sides have been displaced relative to each other. Faults are categorized into three general groups based on the sense of slip or movement.
Normal fault—the block above the inclined fault moves down relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is caused by tensional forces and results in extension. [Other names: normal-slip fault, tensional fault or gravity fault] Examples include Basin & Range faults.
Reverse fault—the block above the inclined fault moves up relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is caused by compressional forces and results in shortening. A reverse fault is called a thrust fault if the dip of the fault plane is small. [Other names: reverse-slip fault or compressional fault.] Examples include the Rocky Mountains and the Himalayan Mountains.
Strike-slip fault—movement of blocks along a fault is horizontal and the fault plane is nearly vertical. If the block on the far side of the fault moves to the left, as shown in this animation, the fault is called left-lateral (Figure 2). If it moves to the right, the fault is called right-lateral. The fault motion of a strike-slip fault is caused by shearing forces. [Other names: trans current fault, lateral fault, tear fault or wrench fault.] Examples include the San Andreas Fault, California; Anatolian Fault, Turkey.
Narrated by Dr. Wendy Bohon
Animated by Jenda Johnson, Earth Sciences Animated
Blocks of land can move in several different ways relative to each other during an earthquake. This video shows the different types of motion.
00:07 Normal ...
Blocks of land can move in several different ways relative to each other during an earthquake. This video shows the different types of motion.
00:07 Normal fault
Normal fault motion is where one overlying block of land moves or slides down relative to the lower block. This is a vertical movement.
The Taupō Volca no Zone is an extensional rift zone and normal faulting is common in this region. The M6.5 Edgecumbe 1987 earthquake is an example of normal faulting.
00:16 Reverse fault
A reverse fault is where one block of land moves over top of the other one. A thrust fault is a certain type of reverse faulting where the angle of movement is less than 45 degrees.
Reverse faulting occurs all over New Zealand. Many shallow earthquakes are reverse faulting, including the M6.2 Christchurch 2011 earthquake. Large, mega-thrust subduction zone earthquakes worldwide are always reverse faulting, such as the M9.1 Sumatra 2004 and M9.1 Tohoku 2011 earthquakes. They often cause a tsunami due to displacing the water vertically when the seafloor thrusts up.
00:24 Blind thrust fault
Where a reverse fault earthquake does not rupture the Earth’s surface. A reverse fault is where one block of land moves over top of the other one.
Blind faults are where any type of fault motion produces an earthquake that doesn’t rupture the Earth’s surface. It is rare that an earthquake ruptures the surface, because most earthquakes are not big enough and occur several kilometres or more below the surface.
00:30 Strike-slip
Strike-slip faulting is where two blocks of land on either side of the fault move past each other horizontally. There is very little up or down movement.
The Alpine Fault is the most well-known fault in New Zealand to move in a strike-slip motion. The Greendale Fault (M7.1 Darfield 2010 earthquake) moved in strike-slip motion and ruptured the Earth’s surface. You can often see metres of horizontal displacement in large enough strike-slip earthquakes.
00:38 Oblique fault
An earthquake that is a combination of strike-slip and reverse or normal faulting, with a combined horizontal and vertical component.
The Wairarapa and Wellington Faults are examples of this type of oblique fault, with a horizontal and vertical component.
Blocks of land can move in several different ways relative to each other during an earthquake. This video shows the different types of motion.
00:07 Normal fault
Normal fault motion is where one overlying block of land moves or slides down relative to the lower block. This is a vertical movement.
The Taupō Volca no Zone is an extensional rift zone and normal faulting is common in this region. The M6.5 Edgecumbe 1987 earthquake is an example of normal faulting.
00:16 Reverse fault
A reverse fault is where one block of land moves over top of the other one. A thrust fault is a certain type of reverse faulting where the angle of movement is less than 45 degrees.
Reverse faulting occurs all over New Zealand. Many shallow earthquakes are reverse faulting, including the M6.2 Christchurch 2011 earthquake. Large, mega-thrust subduction zone earthquakes worldwide are always reverse faulting, such as the M9.1 Sumatra 2004 and M9.1 Tohoku 2011 earthquakes. They often cause a tsunami due to displacing the water vertically when the seafloor thrusts up.
00:24 Blind thrust fault
Where a reverse fault earthquake does not rupture the Earth’s surface. A reverse fault is where one block of land moves over top of the other one.
Blind faults are where any type of fault motion produces an earthquake that doesn’t rupture the Earth’s surface. It is rare that an earthquake ruptures the surface, because most earthquakes are not big enough and occur several kilometres or more below the surface.
00:30 Strike-slip
Strike-slip faulting is where two blocks of land on either side of the fault move past each other horizontally. There is very little up or down movement.
The Alpine Fault is the most well-known fault in New Zealand to move in a strike-slip motion. The Greendale Fault (M7.1 Darfield 2010 earthquake) moved in strike-slip motion and ruptured the Earth’s surface. You can often see metres of horizontal displacement in large enough strike-slip earthquakes.
00:38 Oblique fault
An earthquake that is a combination of strike-slip and reverse or normal faulting, with a combined horizontal and vertical component.
The Wairarapa and Wellington Faults are examples of this type of oblique fault, with a horizontal and vertical component.
Original from Marco Martins-Ferreria https://twitter.com/GeologyMarco/status/1232618566987501568
Stabilization courtesy of Anna Williams, https://twitter.com/An...
Original from Marco Martins-Ferreria https://twitter.com/GeologyMarco/status/1232618566987501568
Stabilization courtesy of Anna Williams, https://twitter.com/AnnaProgw/status/1233297752919986179
Original from Marco Martins-Ferreria https://twitter.com/GeologyMarco/status/1232618566987501568
Stabilization courtesy of Anna Williams, https://twitter.com/AnnaProgw/status/1233297752919986179
Video shows what thrust fault means. A type of reverse fault in which the angle that the hanging wall makes with the horizontal is less than 45 degrees.. Thrus...
Video shows what thrust fault means. A type of reverse fault in which the angle that the hanging wall makes with the horizontal is less than 45 degrees.. Thrust fault Meaning. How to pronounce, definition audio dictionary. How to say thrust fault. Powered by MaryTTS, Wiktionary
Video shows what thrust fault means. A type of reverse fault in which the angle that the hanging wall makes with the horizontal is less than 45 degrees.. Thrust fault Meaning. How to pronounce, definition audio dictionary. How to say thrust fault. Powered by MaryTTS, Wiktionary
www.iris.edu/earthquake
This was created using excerpts from the longer animation called, “Earthquake Faults, Plate Boundaries, & Stress” [to be released September 2019; STAY TUNED!!]
A fault is a rock fracture where the two sides have been displaced relative to each other. Faults are categorized into three general groups based on the sense of slip or movement.
Normal fault—the block above the inclined fault moves down relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is caused by tensional forces and results in extension. [Other names: normal-slip fault, tensional fault or gravity fault] Examples include Basin & Range faults.
Reverse fault—the block above the inclined fault moves up relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is caused by compressional forces and results in shortening. A reverse fault is called a thrust fault if the dip of the fault plane is small. [Other names: reverse-slip fault or compressional fault.] Examples include the Rocky Mountains and the Himalayan Mountains.
Strike-slip fault—movement of blocks along a fault is horizontal and the fault plane is nearly vertical. If the block on the far side of the fault moves to the left, as shown in this animation, the fault is called left-lateral (Figure 2). If it moves to the right, the fault is called right-lateral. The fault motion of a strike-slip fault is caused by shearing forces. [Other names: trans current fault, lateral fault, tear fault or wrench fault.] Examples include the San Andreas Fault, California; Anatolian Fault, Turkey.
Narrated by Dr. Wendy Bohon
Animated by Jenda Johnson, Earth Sciences Animated
Blocks of land can move in several different ways relative to each other during an earthquake. This video shows the different types of motion.
00:07 Normal fault
Normal fault motion is where one overlying block of land moves or slides down relative to the lower block. This is a vertical movement.
The Taupō Volca no Zone is an extensional rift zone and normal faulting is common in this region. The M6.5 Edgecumbe 1987 earthquake is an example of normal faulting.
00:16 Reverse fault
A reverse fault is where one block of land moves over top of the other one. A thrust fault is a certain type of reverse faulting where the angle of movement is less than 45 degrees.
Reverse faulting occurs all over New Zealand. Many shallow earthquakes are reverse faulting, including the M6.2 Christchurch 2011 earthquake. Large, mega-thrust subduction zone earthquakes worldwide are always reverse faulting, such as the M9.1 Sumatra 2004 and M9.1 Tohoku 2011 earthquakes. They often cause a tsunami due to displacing the water vertically when the seafloor thrusts up.
00:24 Blind thrust fault
Where a reverse fault earthquake does not rupture the Earth’s surface. A reverse fault is where one block of land moves over top of the other one.
Blind faults are where any type of fault motion produces an earthquake that doesn’t rupture the Earth’s surface. It is rare that an earthquake ruptures the surface, because most earthquakes are not big enough and occur several kilometres or more below the surface.
00:30 Strike-slip
Strike-slip faulting is where two blocks of land on either side of the fault move past each other horizontally. There is very little up or down movement.
The Alpine Fault is the most well-known fault in New Zealand to move in a strike-slip motion. The Greendale Fault (M7.1 Darfield 2010 earthquake) moved in strike-slip motion and ruptured the Earth’s surface. You can often see metres of horizontal displacement in large enough strike-slip earthquakes.
00:38 Oblique fault
An earthquake that is a combination of strike-slip and reverse or normal faulting, with a combined horizontal and vertical component.
The Wairarapa and Wellington Faults are examples of this type of oblique fault, with a horizontal and vertical component.
Original from Marco Martins-Ferreria https://twitter.com/GeologyMarco/status/1232618566987501568
Stabilization courtesy of Anna Williams, https://twitter.com/AnnaProgw/status/1233297752919986179
Video shows what thrust fault means. A type of reverse fault in which the angle that the hanging wall makes with the horizontal is less than 45 degrees.. Thrust fault Meaning. How to pronounce, definition audio dictionary. How to say thrust fault. Powered by MaryTTS, Wiktionary
A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust across which there has been relative movement, in which rocks of lower stratigraphic position are pushed up and over higher strata. They are often recognized because they place older rocks above younger. Thrust faults are the result of compressional forces.
Thrust geometry and nomenclature
Reverse faults
Thrust faults are a special class of "reverse faulting" that typically have low dip angles. It is often hard to recognize thrusts because their deformation and dislocation can be difficult to detect when they occur within the same rocks without appreciable offset of lithological contacts.
If the angle of the fault plane is low (generally less than 20 degrees from the horizontal) and the displacement of the overlying block is large (often in the kilometer range) the fault is called an overthrust. Erosion can remove part of the overlying block, creating a fenster (or window) when the underlying block is only exposed in a relatively small area. When erosion removes most of the overlying block, leaving only island-like remnants resting on the lower block, the remnants are called klippen (singular klippe).