Aims:  To characterize structures that
           develop during brittle deformation.
 
  
 

Faults occur at all scales in the lithosphere, and geologists study them for many reasons: 
       Faults control the spatial arrangement of rock units, so their presence creates puzzles that challenge even the most experienced geologist . 
       Faults affect topography and modify the landscape. 
       Faults affect the distribution of economic resources (e.g., oil fields and ore bodies). 
       Faults control permeability of rocks and sediments, properties which, in turn, control fluid migration. 
       Faulting creates deformation (strain ± rotation ± translation) in the lithosphere during plate interactions and intraplate movements. 
       Faulting may cause devastating earthquakes. 
Thus, fault analysis plays a role in diverse aspects of both academic and applied geology. This lecture introduces the terminology used to describe fault geometry and displacement, and shows you how to recognize and interpret faults at the surface.