"Fault-block" redirects here. For geological faulting in general, see Fault (geology).
Fault blocks are very large blocks of rock, sometimes hundreds of kilometres in extent, created by tectonic and localized stresses in Earth's crust. Large areas of bedrock are broken up into blocks by faults. Blocks are characterized by relatively uniform lithology. The largest of these fault blocks are called crustal blocks. Large crustal blocks broken off from tectonic plates are called terranes.[1] Those terranes which are the full thickness of the lithosphere are called microplates. Continent-sized blocks are called variously microcontinents, continental ribbons, H-blocks, extensional allochthons and outer highs.[2]
Horizontal movement between blocks along a strike-slip fault
Because most stresses relate to the tectonic activity of moving plates, most motion between blocks is horizontal, that is parallel to the Earth's crust by strike-slip faults. However vertical movement of blocks produces much more dramatic results. Landforms (mountains, hills, ridges, lakes, valleys, etc.) are sometimes formed when the faults have a large vertical displacement. Adjacent raised blocks (horsts) and down-dropped blocks (grabens) can form high escarpments. Often the movement of these blocks is accompanied by tilting, due to compaction or stretching of the crust at that point.
Tilted type block mountains have one gently sloping side and one steep side with an exposed scarp, and are common in the Basin and Range region of the western United States.
^A crustal block may or may not also comprise a tectonostratigraphic terrane that has a specific geologic definition. Bulter, Robert F. (1992) "Chapter 11: Applications to Regional Tectonics" Paleomagnetism: Magnetic Domains to Geologic Terranes Blackwell, pp. 205–223, page 205, archived by Internet Archive on 26 October 2004
^Péron-Pinvidic, Gwenn; Manatschal, Gianreto (2010). "From microcontinents to extensional allochthons: witnesses of how continents rift and break apart?". Petroleum Geoscience. 16 (3): 189. doi:10.1144/1354-079309-903. S2CID 131142997.
^Мичев (Michev), Николай (Nikolay); Михайлов (Mihaylov), Цветко (Tsvetko); Вапцаров (Vaptsarov), Иван (Ivan); Кираджиев (Kiradzhiev), Светлин (Svetlin) (1980). Географски речник на България [Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria] (in Bulgarian). Sofia: Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura). p. 368.
^Димитрова (Dimitrova), Людмила (Lyudmila) (2004). Национален парк "Пирин". План за управление [Pirin National Park. Management Plan] (in Bulgarian). и колектив. Sofia: Ministry of Environment and Water, Bulgarian Foundation "Biodiversity". p. 53.
^Дончев (Donchev), Дончо (Doncho); Каракашев (Karakashev), Христо (Hristo) (2004). Теми по физическа и социално-икономическа география на България [Topics on Physical and Social-Economic Geography of Bulgaria] (in Bulgarian). Sofia: Ciela. pp. 128–129. ISBN954-649-717-7.
References
Plummer, Charles, David McGeary, and Diane Carlson. Physical Geology 8th ed. McGraw-Hill, Boston, 1999.
Monroe, James S., and Reed Wicander. The Changing Earth: Exploring Geology and Evolution. 2nd educational Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1997. ISBN0-314-09577-2 (pp. 234,-8)
fault, block, fault, block, redirects, here, geological, faulting, general, fault, geology, very, large, blocks, rock, sometimes, hundreds, kilometres, extent, created, tectonic, localized, stresses, earth, crust, large, areas, bedrock, broken, into, blocks, f. Fault block redirects here For geological faulting in general see Fault geology Fault blocks are very large blocks of rock sometimes hundreds of kilometres in extent created by tectonic and localized stresses in Earth s crust Large areas of bedrock are broken up into blocks by faults Blocks are characterized by relatively uniform lithology The largest of these fault blocks are called crustal blocks Large crustal blocks broken off from tectonic plates are called terranes 1 Those terranes which are the full thickness of the lithosphere are called microplates Continent sized blocks are called variously microcontinents continental ribbons H blocks extensional allochthons and outer highs 2 The Hanging Hills of Connecticut Metacomet Ridge range upfaulting horst visible from right to left Horizontal movement between blocks along a strike slip fault Because most stresses relate to the tectonic activity of moving plates most motion between blocks is horizontal that is parallel to the Earth s crust by strike slip faults However vertical movement of blocks produces much more dramatic results Landforms mountains hills ridges lakes valleys etc are sometimes formed when the faults have a large vertical displacement Adjacent raised blocks horsts and down dropped blocks grabens can form high escarpments Often the movement of these blocks is accompanied by tilting due to compaction or stretching of the crust at that point Contents 1 Fault block mountains 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksFault block mountains EditSee also List of mountain types and Mountain building Lifted fault block geology Tilted fault block formation in the Teton Range Belasitsa Rila Rhodope massif Bulgaria Fault block mountains often result from rifting an indicator of extensional tectonics These can be small or form extensive rift valley systems such as the East African Rift zone Death Valley in California is a smaller example There are two main types of block mountains uplifted blocks between two faults and tilted blocks mainly controlled by one fault Lifted type block mountains have two steep sides exposing both sides scarps leading to the horst and graben terrain seen in various parts of Europe including the Upper Rhine valley a graben between two horsts the Vosges mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany and also the Rila Rhodope Massif in Bulgaria Southeast Europe including the well defined horsts of Belasitsa linear horst Rila mountain vaulted domed shaped horst and Pirin mountain a horst forming a massive anticline situated between the complex graben valleys of Struma and that of Mesta 3 4 5 Tilted type block mountains have one gently sloping side and one steep side with an exposed scarp and are common in the Basin and Range region of the western United States An example of a graben is the basin of the Narmada River in India between the Vindhya and Satpura horsts See also EditOrogeny The formation of mountain rangesNotes Edit A crustal block may or may not also comprise a tectonostratigraphic terrane that has a specific geologic definition Bulter Robert F 1992 Chapter 11 Applications to Regional Tectonics Paleomagnetism Magnetic Domains to Geologic Terranes Blackwell pp 205 223 page 205 archived here by Internet Archive on 26 October 2004 Peron Pinvidic Gwenn Manatschal Gianreto 2010 From microcontinents to extensional allochthons witnesses of how continents rift and break apart Petroleum Geoscience 16 3 189 doi 10 1144 1354 079309 903 S2CID 131142997 Michev Michev Nikolaj Nikolay Mihajlov Mihaylov Cvetko Tsvetko Vapcarov Vaptsarov Ivan Ivan Kiradzhiev Kiradzhiev Svetlin Svetlin 1980 Geografski rechnik na Blgariya Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria in Bulgarian Sofia Nauka i kultura Nauka i kultura p 368 Dimitrova Dimitrova Lyudmila Lyudmila 2004 Nacionalen park Pirin Plan za upravlenie Pirin National Park Management Plan in Bulgarian i kolektiv Sofia Ministry of Environment and Water Bulgarian Foundation Biodiversity p 53 Donchev Donchev Doncho Doncho Karakashev Karakashev Hristo Hristo 2004 Temi po fizicheska i socialno ikonomicheska geografiya na Blgariya Topics on Physical and Social Economic Geography of Bulgaria in Bulgarian Sofia Ciela pp 128 129 ISBN 954 649 717 7 References EditPlummer Charles David McGeary and Diane Carlson Physical Geology 8th ed McGraw Hill Boston 1999 Monroe James S and Reed Wicander The Changing Earth Exploring Geology and Evolution 2nd educational Belmont Wadsworth Publishing Company 1997 ISBN 0 314 09577 2 pp 234 8 External links EditFault Block Mountains Universe Today Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fault block amp oldid 1092354849, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
