Question

answer all questions and complete all sketches in our notebook.
normal fault

1. locate points a and b on your model.
2. move point b so that it is next to point a.
3. observe your model from the side (the cross section).
4. draw the normal fault as represented by the model you have just constructed, use the same colors you used on your fault.

normal fault questions:

1. which way did point b move relative to point a?
2. what happened to rock layers x, y and z?
3. are the rock layers still continuous? (unbroken without interruption).
4. what likely happened to the river? the road? the railroad tracks? explain your answer.

reverse fault

1. locate points c and d on your model.
2. move point c next to point d
3. observe the cross section of your model
4. draw the normal fault as represented by the model you have just constructed, use the same colors you used on your fault.

reverse fault questions:

1. which way did point d move relative to point c?
2. what happened to rock layers x, y and z?
3. are the rock layers still continuous? (unbroken without interruption)
4. what likely happened to the river? the road? the railroad tracks? explain your answer.

strike - slip (transform) fault

1. locate points f and g on your model.
2. move the pieces of the model so that point f is next to point g.
3. observe your model from the side (the cross section).
4. draw an overhead view of the surface as it looks after movement along the fault. use the same colors you used on your fault.

strike - slip (transform) fault questions

1. if you were standing at point f and looking across the fault, which way did the block on the opposite side move?
2. what happened to rock layers x, y and z?
3. are the rock layers still continuous? (unbroken without interruption)
4. what likely happened to the river? the road? the railroad tracks? explain your answer.

Explanation:

Normal Fault Questions

1. In a normal fault, the hanging wall (where point B is typically located) moves downward relative to the footwall (point A).
2. The rock layers X, Y, Z are offset; the hanging wall layers shift down, creating a step-like break.
3. No, the rock layers are broken and no longer continuous.
4. River: It will form a waterfall or steep rapids at the fault, as the riverbed is offset. Road/railroad: They will be broken and offset, with one section lower than the other, making them impassable until repaired.

Reverse Fault Questions

1. In a reverse fault, the hanging wall (point D) moves upward relative to the footwall (point C).
2. The rock layers X, Y, Z are offset, with the hanging wall layers pushed up and over the footwall layers, causing some layers to be overlapped.
3. No, the rock layers are broken and discontinuous.
4. River: It will flow backward or form a lake at the fault scarp, as the upstream side is now higher. Road/railroad: They will be broken, with one section raised above the other, creating a steep, impassable step.

Strike-slip (Transform) Fault Questions

1. If standing at point F, the opposite block will move either left or right (if it's a right-lateral fault, the block moves right; left-lateral, it moves left).
2. The rock layers X, Y, Z are offset horizontally but remain at the same vertical level.
3. No, the rock layers are horizontally broken and discontinuous.
4. River: It will be offset horizontally, creating a zigzag bend at the fault. Road/railroad: They will be horizontally offset, with the two sections no longer aligned, making them impassable.

Answer:

Normal Fault Answers

1. Point B moved downward relative to point A.
2. The rock layers are offset downward on one side of the fault.
3. No
4. River: Forms a waterfall/rapids at the fault offset. Road/railroad: Broken and vertically offset, impassable.

Reverse Fault Answers

1. Point D moved upward relative to point C.
2. The rock layers are offset, with one side pushed over the other.
3. No
4. River: Forms a lake/backflow at the fault scarp. Road/railroad: Broken and vertically offset, impassable.

Strike-slip (Transform) Fault Answers

1. The opposite block moves either left or right (lateral direction).
2. The rock layers are offset horizontally.
3. No
4. River: Horizontally offset into a zigzag. Road/railroad: Horizontally offset, misaligned and impassable.