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Earth Science Simple #fault

Fault Types

Normal, reverse, strike-slip - the three primary fault geometries.

A free, animated fault types you can read here or embed on any website, from Scrollchart.

Fault Types

Fault TypesStress regime determines fault geometry and displacement directionNormal FaultExtensional stress (divergent zones)Reverse / Thrust FaultCompressional stress (convergent zones)Strike-Slip FaultShear stress (transform zones)Hanging wall(drops down)FootwallextensionEx: Basin and Range, East African RiftcompressionFootwallHanging wall(rides up)Ex: Himalayas, Appalachians, CascadiaNSNo vertical offsetEpicentersEx: San Andreas Fault, Dead Sea TransformNormal = extension (footwall stationary, hanging wall drops) | Reverse = compression (hanging wall thrust upward) | Strike-slip = lateral shear (no dip)

Available in: Español

Three block diagrams: normal (extension), reverse/thrust (compression), strike-slip (transform). Stress regimes and example regions for each.

Good for

  • Earthquake-risk explainers
  • Geology and tectonics education
  • Natural disaster journalism

Source & accuracy

This fault types is an editorial illustration built to represent the concept accurately. Where it shows figures, they are typical or representative values chosen to make the relationship clear, not a single underlying dataset. The diagram and its explainer are reviewed and maintained centrally, and updated over time as understanding improves.

Normal faults and extension

Normal faults occur when the rock is being pulled apart. One block slides down relative to the other along an inclined plane. The Great Rift Valley in Africa is a classic normal-fault system where the continent is literally splitting apart. Normal faults produce moderate earthquakes and shallow ruptures.

Reverse and strike-slip faults

Reverse faults happen when rock is compressed; one block is pushed up and over the other. The Himalayas grew from reverse faulting as the Indian plate collides with Asia. Strike-slip faults are vertical or near-vertical, where blocks slide past each other horizontally. The San Andreas Fault in California is the classic example. Reverse and strike-slip faults can produce the largest earthquakes because they store and release enormous compressional or shear energy.

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Reference

What this is
A free, embeddable, animated fault types for any website.
Who uses it
Science popularizers.
How to embed
Copy one line of HTML. No signup. No watermark. Works in WordPress, Webflow, Ghost, Substack, plain HTML.
File size
iframe embed, ~80 KB gzipped (loads on demand, does not block your page paint).
License
Free forever. Editorial explainer text included; updated centrally over time.
URL
scrollchart.com/diagram/fault-types

Embed format options

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I get a free animated "Fault Types" for my website?
Scrollchart provides "Fault Types" as a free, embeddable animated diagram you can add to any website with one line of HTML. No signup is required and there is no watermark. The diagram and its explainer text are served from scrollchart.com, so the embed stays current without any maintenance on your end.
How do I embed a fault types in WordPress or a static site?
Paste the HTML snippet from the Scrollchart diagram page into your WordPress post (in HTML/code view), your Webflow embed block, or directly into a static HTML file. No plugin is needed. The diagram loads from scrollchart.com and paints in as the reader scrolls.
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