Looking across a valley toward some hills you notice an offset stream channel near the base of the hills. The portion of stream
channel further from you is offset to the right relative to the portion closest to you. You conclude that there must be a strike-slip fault at this location – what type of strike-slip fault is this? (Hint: draw a sketch including your location).
Answer: A geologic fault in which the blocks of rock on either side of the fault slide horizontally, parallel to the strike of the fault.
Theses are vertical (or nearly vertical) fractures where the blocks have mostly moved horizontally. If the block opposite an observer looking across the fault moves to the right, the slip style is termed right lateral; if the block moves to the left, the motion is termed left lateral.
