Geological fault is the rupture or splitting of a block of rocks or narrow bands of the surface that is responsible for the displacement of its parts. The accumulation of energy and its eventual release in geological fault zones is one of the factors responsible for the occurrence of earthquakes.
The types of geological fault vary according to the criteria used in their classification. In the present approach, they are typified in three different forms: normal, reverse, and transcurrent.
In the normal type fault, the split occurs when a block “descends” or lowers from the fault surface. This occurs when the pressure exerted on the region causes a negative tension.
In reverse-type failure, splitting occurs when a block “rises” in relation to the fault, raising its surface. This happens when tectonism causes a tension responsible for compressing the space occupied by the rock layers.
In the transcurrent fault, also called horizontal fault, there is a parallel movement between the two blocks, which can be caused by inverse vectors of horizontal forces applied on each rock segment.
