Faults: normal, reverse and strike-slip

Henry Hoult and Kate Pedley
University of Canterbury, School of Earth and Environment
Initial Publication Date: July 8, 2026
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Summary

This workflow uses Visible Geology to show to use the displacement of layers across different types of faults and assess their direction of motion, anticipating what kinds of tectonic forces are responsible.

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Learning Goals

Learning objectives:

  1. Use the displacement of layers across a fault plane to identify the direction of motion.
  2. Identify different types of fault depending on the direction of motion.
  3. Anticipate what kind of tectonic forces were active to generate different types of fault.

Key Visible Geology skills:

  1. Apply faults to a block model
  2. Change the strike, dip, plunge and slip of a fault
  3. Change the strike and dip of layers

Context for Use

This ~1 hour workflow is a standalone tool for students to either work through as part of a guided lab exercise that builds on lecture material, or as an independent exercise to consolidate learning. It builds concepts from the ground up so it is appropriate for high school to junior college level students.

Description and Teaching Materials

Visible Geology needs to be available for each student, along with the attached worksheet .pdf. Students work through the worksheet, following instructions and exploring the model as it is developed. Key learnings are highlighted in the worksheet at every step. Questions towards the end of the worksheet interrogate students understanding, before an exercise getting them to apply their new knowledge finishes the worksheet.
Workflow handout for Faults (Acrobat (PDF) 1.2MB Jul8 26)



Teaching Notes and Tips

To save and share their work in Visible Geology, students are encouraged to log in with their Google Account.

Assessment

If students are able to answer the questions and complete the final exercise adequately, then they have met the learning objectives of this workflow.

References and Resources

For tips, tricks and how-to videos for using Visible Geology, check out the Visible Geology Help & Resources.