Characteristics Fault scarp

fault scarps contain highly fractured rock of both hard , weak consistency. in many cases, bluffs form upthrown block , can steep. height of scarp formation equal vertical displacement along fault. active scarps formed tectonic displacement, e.g. when earthquake changes elevation of ground, , can caused type of fault, including strike-slip faults, motion horizontal. movement episodic, height of bluffs being result of multiple movements on time. displacement of around 5 10 meters per tectonic event common.

this fault scarp created 1959 hebgen lake earthquake. photo taken august 19, 1959.

due dramatic uplift along fault, fault scarp prone erosion, if material being uplifted consists of unconsolidated sediment. weathering, mass wasting , water runoff can wear down these bluffs, resulting in v-shaped valleys along runoff channels. adjacent v-shaped valley formations give remaining fault spurs triangular shape. formation known triangular facet; however, landform not limited fault scarps.

fault scarps may few centimeters or many meters high. fault-line scarps coincident faults, typically formed erosion of weaker rocks have been brought alongside more resistant ones movement along fault. in case of old eroded fault scarps, active erosion may have moved physical cliff away actual fault location may buried beneath talus, alluvial fan or sediments of valley fill.

teton range

the teton range in wyoming example of active fault scarp. dramatic topography of tetons due geologically recent activity on teton fault.

hurricane cliffs

the hurricane cliffs, west of zion national park in utah prominent example of fault scarp along old, inactive, fault. other examples include scarps bounding east african rift valley , rio grande rift in new mexico.