The Faults ClipArt gallery include 37 illustrations and examples of fractures in rocks along which there has been movement. The energy release associated with rapid movement on active faults is the cause of most earthquakes.

Block faulting - ridges produced by tilting of blocks.

Block Faulting

Block faulting - ridges produced by tilting of blocks.

Block faulting - region of horizontal strata intersected by vertical fissures.

Block Faulting

Block faulting - region of horizontal strata intersected by vertical fissures.

Diagram showing mountains and valleys due to block faulting in the background, and the dissection of the blocks and filling of the valleys, in the foreground. A stage of maturity has been reached in the development of these mountains.

Block Faulting Results

Diagram showing mountains and valleys due to block faulting in the background, and the dissection of…

Diagram showing block faulting of the checkerboard type; peneplanation of the region, and the development of a complicated topography by erosion in the second cycle.

Checkerboard Block Faulting

Diagram showing block faulting of the checkerboard type; peneplanation of the region, and the development…

The mass consists of crystalline rocks, shown by dots, covered by limestones and other sediments, which originally were horizontal. A single great fault forms the left-hand face of the mountain, which consists of a tilted block, broken into minor blocks by lesser faults.

Block Faulting, Sandia Mountains

The mass consists of crystalline rocks, shown by dots, covered by limestones and other sediments, which…

"A fault is a fracture accompanied by displacement of the strata." -Dryer, 1901

Fault

"A fault is a fracture accompanied by displacement of the strata." -Dryer, 1901

"Section of a clean-cut fault." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fault

"Section of a clean-cut fault." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Section of strats, bent at a line of fault." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fault

"Section of strats, bent at a line of fault." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Reversed fault, Liddlesdale." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fault

"Reversed fault, Liddlesdale." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Plan of strata cut by a dip-fault." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fault

"Plan of strata cut by a dip-fault." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

The image shows the displacement in the strata of rock that is caused by a geological fault.

Fault

The image shows the displacement in the strata of rock that is caused by a geological fault.

A fault line valley. A fault line, is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect to the rock on the other side.

Fault Line Valley

A fault line valley. A fault line, is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the…

An illustration of a clean-cut fault.

Clean-cut Fault

An illustration of a clean-cut fault.

An illustration of a dip fault disrupting the plan of strata.

Dip Fault

An illustration of a dip fault disrupting the plan of strata.

Diagram illustrating drag of strata along a fault plane.

Drag

Diagram illustrating drag of strata along a fault plane.

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect to the rock on the other side. Here, the arrow indicates the downthrow side.

Gravity Fault

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect…

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect to the rock on the other side. Here, the arrow indicates the downthrow side.

Gravity Fault

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect…

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect to the rock on the other side. Here, the arrow indicates the downthrow side.

Gravity Fault

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect…

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect to the rock on the other side. Here, the arrow indicates the downthrow side.

Gravity Fault

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect…

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect to the rock on the other side. Here, the arrow indicates the downthrow side.

Gravity Fault

A fault is a planar fracture in rock in which the rock on one side of the fracture has moved with respect…

A reverse fault is the opposite of a normal fault — the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall. Reverse faults are indicative of shortening of the crust. The dip of a reverse fault is relatively steep, greater than 45°.

Reverse Fault

A reverse fault is the opposite of a normal fault — the hanging wall moves up relative to the…

"Diagram showing a reverse or overthrust fault (b)." -Lee, 1915

Reverse Fault

"Diagram showing a reverse or overthrust fault (b)." -Lee, 1915

"The two faults of larger throw, by which a single sheet of trap is represented in three ridges, are proved by the threefold repetition of series of beds comprising sandstone, conglomerate, and amygdaloidal trap, shale, and heavy trap." -Walcott, 1901

Strike Fault

"The two faults of larger throw, by which a single sheet of trap is represented in three ridges, are…

A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side against the other. Here, the arrow indicates the upthrust side.

Thrust Fault

A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side…

A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side against the other. Here, the arrow indicates the upthrust side.

Thrust Fault

A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side…

A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side against the other. Here, the arrow indicates the upthrust side.

Thrust Fault

A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side…

A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side against the other. Here, the arrow indicates the upthrust side.

Thrust Fault

A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side…

Diagram illustrating the offset of strata produced by vertical slipping along an inclined plane, when the fault is oblique with reference to the strata. The dotted outline restores the fault scarp and gives the appearance immediately after faulting, before erosion has removed this portion of the block.

Thrust Fault Diagram

Diagram illustrating the offset of strata produced by vertical slipping along an inclined plane, when…

An illustration of a trough fault.

Trough Fault

An illustration of a trough fault.

Diagram illustrating various types of fault.

Various Types of Fault

Diagram illustrating various types of fault.

Diagram illustrating block faulting, and the initial stage in the formation of block mountains.

Block Faulting

Diagram illustrating block faulting, and the initial stage in the formation of block mountains.

"Diagram showing normal faults (a)." -Lee, 1915

Normal Faults

"Diagram showing normal faults (a)." -Lee, 1915

An illustration of undulating strata cut by a fault with alternate throw in opposite directions.

Diagram of Undulating Strata Cut by a Fault

An illustration of undulating strata cut by a fault with alternate throw in opposite directions.

An illustration of a plan of strata transversed by a diminishing strike fault.

Strata Transversed by a Diminshing Strike Fault

An illustration of a plan of strata transversed by a diminishing strike fault.

An illustration of strata bent at a line of fault. In geology and related fields, a stratum (plural: strata) is a layer of rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguishes it from contiguous layers. Each layer is generally one of a number of parallel layers that lie one upon another, laid down by natural forces.

Strata with Fault Line

An illustration of strata bent at a line of fault. In geology and related fields, a stratum (plural:…

An illustration of the plan of a strike fault. The fault surface is usually near vertical and the footwall moves either left or right or laterally with very little vertical motion. Strike-slip faults with left-lateral motion are also known as sinistral faults. Those with right-lateral motion are also known as dextral faults. A special class of strike-slip faults is the transform faults which are a plate tectonics feature related to spreading centers such as mid-ocean ridges.

Plan of a Strike Fault

An illustration of the plan of a strike fault. The fault surface is usually near vertical and the footwall…

Diagram showing passage of thrust fault into fold.

Thrust Fault into Fold

Diagram showing passage of thrust fault into fold.