The Hanging Wall Moves Downward Relative To The Footwall

Tension is stress that pulls rocks apart.

The hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall. A normal fault occurs when the crust is extended. Normal dip slip faults are produced by vertical compression as earth s crust lengthens. They bound many of the mountain ranges of the world and many of the rift valleys found along spreading margins. These usually occur when tectonic forces cause tension that pulls rocks apart.

When the hanging wall moves up in relative to the footwall it is called a fault. Alternatively such a fault can be called an extensional fault. When the hanging wall moves down in relative to the footwall it is called a fault. The hanging wall slides down relative to the footwall.

Low angle normal faults with regional tectonic significance may be designated detachment faults. Another type of fault is the thrust fault where ground on one side of the fault moves up and over adjacent ground. An upthrown block between two normal faults dipping away from each other is a horst. Normal fault s are common.

Along a normal fault the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall. In a normal fault the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall.