Normal, or Dip-slip, faults are inclined fractures where the blocks have mostly shifted vertically. If the rock mass above an inclined fault moves down, the fault is termed normal, whereas if the rock above the fault moves up, the fault is termed a Reverse fault.

What happens during a normal fault?

A normal fault is a fault in which the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall. ... The opposite is a reverse fault, in which the hanging wall moves up instead of down. A normal fault is a result of the earth's crust spreading apart.

What is a normal fault simple definition?

normal fault - a dip-slip fault in which the block above the fault has moved downward relative to the block below. This type of faulting occurs in response to extension and is often observed in the Western United States Basin and Range Province and along oceanic ridge systems.