Mountain building uplifts rocks against the force of gravity raising their potential energy, which requires work by the earth system. Based on the relative motion of fault blocks, what type of fault would you expect to require more energy than the others?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thrust faults involve rocks being pushed over each other, which requires more force and energy than normal faults where rocks are pulled apart or strike-slip faults where rocks slide past each other horizontally. Therefore, a thrust fault would require more energy than the other types.

Mountain Building Uplifts Rocks Against the Force of Gravity Raising