Geology: | rock types | faults/folds | real faults/folds | geological concepts | plate tectonics | brief southwest geology | Tucson geology |

FORCES, FAULTS AND FOLDS

Forces, ultimately from plate tectonics, act on rock and cause it to break (fault) or fold (fold).

FORCES:

Tension: pulling apart	Compression: pushing together	Shear (Lateral): sliding past

FAULTS: when rocks break due to force. Put mouse cursor in image to see force applied to it.

Normal Fault Caused by tension	Reverse Fault Caused by compression	Strike-Slip Fault Caused by shear (lateral) forces

FOLDS: when rocks bend due to force. Put mouse cursor in image to see force applied to it.

Anticline Caused by compression Folded up like an "A"	Syncline Caused by compression Folded down like a "U"

Now, are you ready to apply your new knowledge on the real thing?