Fault Types

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There are four major fault types. These faults include a normal fault, reverse fault, strike-slip fault sometimes referred to as a (transform fault) and a thrust fault. Faults can occur along plate boundaries and layer boundaries in rocks.

A Normal Fault is where the footwall is up and the hanging wall is down.

A Reverse Fault is where the hanging wall is up and the footwall is down.

A Strike-Slip (Transform Fault) is where the plate boundaries slide passed each other.

A Thrust Fault is where one tectonic plate is shoved other top another tectonic plate.