Presentation by: Mary D’Angelo, Chad Ervin,
Woody Meadows, and Colin Whited
Geologist: Dr. Michele Cooke
Why are some faults larger than
the others?
- Brittle/Ductile
- Magnitude of Earthquakes
- Direction of extension or compression
- Age (The bigger, the older)
- Pressure (Amount/Strength)
How to tell the difference
between a small and large fault
- The larger the fault the larger the landmass & damage
(brittle/ductile/flexibility)
- Location of corresponding bedrock layers
-Larger and Smaller faults’
EXAMPLE: Wasatch Fault (rate of increase: 4 inches per year)
-Clear fault indication means it is a young fault
-Older faults tend to have multiple cracks/breakage & bedrock
layers are difficult to tell apart
How small faults become large faults
-Small faults increase in size due to seismic
activity
-Extension & Compression
-Length of slip
- Focus point of stress/breakage
Where will we drill for oil in Moab?
-Near the Moab Fault
Examples are as follows:
In a fold on top of water
In a fault, specifically the footwall
Where two layers of bedrock meet