Here’s a tabular comparison between a strike-slip fault and a normal fault:
| Aspect | Strike-Slip Fault | Normal Fault |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | Horizontal displacement along the fault plane | Vertical displacement along the fault plane |
| Plate Interaction | Often associated with transform plate boundaries | Associated with divergent plate boundaries or extensional tectonic settings |
| Stress Regime | Shearing stress, with rocks sliding past each other | Tensile stress, with rocks pulling apart or extending |
| Fault Plane Orientation | Generally has a steeply dipping fault plane | Fault plane is inclined or tilted |
| Surface Expression | May exhibit lateral offsets or shear zones | Forms fault scarps or stepped topography |
| Seismic Activity | Can generate significant earthquakes | Can generate earthquakes, but typically of lesser magnitude |
| Geological Features | Commonly associated with strike-slip fault zones | Often associated with fault blocks and grabens |
| Examples | San Andreas Fault in California, USA; Alpine Fault in New Zealand | East African Rift System; Basin and Range Province in the USA |
