ASBOG Practice Exam

What type of fault movement is characterized by parallel motion with no vertical displacement?

1. Normal fault

2. Reverse fault

3. Strike-slip fault

4. Transform fault

The correct answer is: Strike-slip fault

The type of fault movement characterized by parallel motion with no vertical displacement is a strike-slip fault. In this type of fault, the movement occurs primarily in a horizontal direction along the fault plane. As a result, the rocks on either side of the fault slide past one another, maintaining their elevation while shifting laterally. Strike-slip faults are often associated with tectonic plate boundaries where plates slide horizontally relative to each other, leading to significant geological features and phenomena. These faults can be classified further into right-lateral and left-lateral motion, depending on the direction of movement observed from a fixed point. Understanding strike-slip faults is crucial in geology, particularly when studying earthquake patterns and predicting seismic activity, as they often produce significant geological impacts without vertical displacements commonly seen in normal or reverse faults.