Deformation

Folds and Faults

 Diastrophism
• Diastrophism refers to the movement of
the earth’s crust. It involves the formation
of faults and folds which are both involved
in mountain building. It also explains the
occurrence of earthquakes
 Rocks become deformed when the Earth’s
crust is compressed or stretched. The forces
needed to do this act over millions of years –
deformation is a very slow process!

Compression: Faults
Tension: Folds
 Folds
Geologic activities that give stress and strain
in the rocks, causing to fracture and crumple

Types: Monocline, Anticline, Syncline,

Recumbent

Most folds are the result of compressional

stresses that result in a shortening and
thickening of the crust.
Basic Folds
 Monocline
• Formed when there is a slight bend in
otherwise parallel layers of rock

• consisting of two horizontal (or nearly so)

limbs connected by a shorter inclined limb
 Anticline
• Formed when there is a convex up fold in
rock that is similar to an arch-like structure
with the rock bends (or limbs) dipping way
from the center of the structure
 Syncline
Where the rock layers are wrapped
downward as a result of compressional
forces.

The greater the pressure the anticlines,

synclines are more inclined and
asymmetrical
 Recumbent
• Formed if the center of the fold moves
from being once vertical to a horizontal
position because compression and shear
forces is stronger in one direction
 Faults
Are formed in rocks when stresses
overcome the internal strength of the rock
resulting in fracture.

Occur from both compressional and

tensional forces that causes displacement
of once connected blocks of rock along a
fault lane
 Normal Fault
• Occurs when tensional forces act in
opposite directions causing the footwall to
be pushed upward and the hanging wall
downward
 Reverse Fault
• Occurs when compression forces cause
one block to be pushed up and over the
other block
 Graben and Horst Fault
• Graben: occurs when tensional stresses
result in the subsidence of a block of rock
just like the so-called Rift Valley

• Horst: occurs when two reverse faults

causes a block of rock to be pushed up
 Strike-slip faulter
transform fault
• Occurs when the stresses are exerted
parallel to each other.