Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, L.M. Gard, Jr., U.S. Geological Survey. |
Under-thrust fault resulting from the Gnome explosion, a nuclear test, in Eddy County, New Mexico, 1962. The fault parallels bedding of the lower plate, following a thin clay seam that normally lies 1.6 m above basal clay-like halite at left. The cavity is to the right. Scale is .9 m long. Image Credit: L.M. Gard, Jr.. U.S. Geological Survey Through the study of faults and their effects, much can be learned about the size and recurrence intervals of earthquakes. Faults also teach us about crustal movements that have produced mountains and changed continents. Initially a section of Earth's crust may merely bend under pressure to a new position. Or slow movement known as seismic creep may continue unhindered along a fault plane. However stresses often continue to build until they exceed the strength of the rock in that section of crust. The rock then breaks, and an earthquake occurs, sometimes releasing massive amounts of energy. The ensuing earth displacement is known as a fault. This slide set describes the mechanism and types of faulting. It illustrates a variety of fault expressions in natural and manmade features. |
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