A fault is the surface in which rocks break and slide past each other.

There are three main types of faults. The first is called a normal fault. The second is called a reverse fault. The third is called a strike-slip fault.

A normal fault is when the rocks pull apart and the hanging wall is pushed downwards as the footwall goes upwards.

Footwall

Hanging Wall

A reverse fault is when the rocks squeezetogether and the hanging wall is pushed upwards as the footwall goes downwards.

Footwall

Hanging Wall