GEM 2108: STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY

Faults and faulting

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topic, students should be able to:

• Identify the structural elements of faults;

• Name and classify faults;
• Recognizing faults on maps and images
• Interpret the geological significance of faults

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DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS: PHYSICAL AND GEOMETRIC STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

Physical elements Geometric elements

Fault surface or scarp Fault line
Fault blocks Heave and throw
Fault walls Dip of fault surface
Separations

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DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS: PHYSICAL AND GEOMETRIC STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

Upthrown
block Downthrown
block

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DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS: PHYSICAL AND GEOMETRIC STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

Where do the words

footwall and hanging wall
come from?

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DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS: PHYSICAL AND GEOMETRIC STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

What elements can you identify so far?

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DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS: PHYSICAL AND GEOMETRIC STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By ACTUAL relative movement of the walls.

1. Normal-slip =
2. Low-angle normal-slip =
3. Reverse -slip =
4. Thrust-slip =

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By ACTUAL relative movement of the walls.

Normal-slip fault Reverse-slip fault

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By ACTUAL relative movement of the walls.

Low-angle normal-slip fault

(Dip angle less than 45 degrees)

Thrust-slip fault

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

Note how thrust faults could place older rocks over younger rocks.

Dip angle less than 30 degrees

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

Thrust fault

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By ACTUAL relative movement of the walls.

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By ACTUAL relative movement of the walls.

Name the fault.

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By ACTUAL relative movement of the walls.

China (40.3°N, 77.7°E) 17

CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By ACTUAL relative movement of the walls.

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By ACTUAL relative movement of the walls.

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CLASSIFICATION OF FAULTS

By APPARENT relative movement of the walls (Separation classification).

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DETERMINATION OF SLIP ON FAULTS

1. SLICKENSIDES AND GROOVES

2. CHATTERMARKS
3. DRAG FOLDS

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DETERMINATION OF SLIP ON FAULTS

SLICKENSIDES AND GROOVES

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DETERMINATION OF SLIP ON FAULTS

SLICKENSIDES AND GROOVES

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DETERMINATION OF SLIP ON FAULTS

CHATTERMARKS

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DETERMINATION OF SLIP ON FAULTS

DRAG FOLDS

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DETERMINATION OF SLIP ON FAULTS

DRAG FOLDS

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FAULT SYSTEMS

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FAULT SYSTEMS

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FAULT SYSTEMS

Takutu Graben

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Inconsistent stratigraphic patterns

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Inconsistent stratigraphic patterns

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Fault rocks

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DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF FAULTS

Fault gouge

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Fault rocks

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Triangular facets

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Lineaments

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Lineaments

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Truncation and offset

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RECOGNIZING FAULTS ON MAPS, AIRPHOTOS AND IN THE FIELD

Truncation and offset

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FAULT ZONES

Fault zones

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DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF FAULTS

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DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF FAULTS

Tensional forces – Normal faulting

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DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF FAULTS

Compressional forces – Reverse faulting

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DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF FAULTS

Compressional forces – Reverse faulting

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