Name three types of faults

KCSE Geography Paper 1 2009 Section B Question 8.

 (a) (i) Name three types of faults 

• Normal fault
• Reverse fault
• Tear/ shear fault/ slip/ transform/ wrench/ strike slip
• Thrust fault
• Ant clinical fault

​(ii) Apart from compressional forces, explain two other processes that may cause faulting

• Faulting may be caused by force acting horizontally away from each other which cause tension in the crystal rocks. Due to tensional forces the rocks stretch and fracture causing faults
• Faulting may occur where horizontal forces act parallel to each other in the opposite/ same direction resulting in shearing
• Faulting may also occur due to vertical movements which may exert a strain in the rocks making them to fracture.

(b) With the aid of diagrams, describe how compressional forces may have led to the formation of the great rift valley 

• Layers of rocks are subjected to compression forces​

• Layers of rocks are subjected to compression forces

• Compression forces may push the outer blocks towards each other the outer ride over the middle block) the middle block sinks/ subside/ may remain stable
• The sunken middle part forms a depression called a rift valley
• Layer
• Fault line 
• Compression
• Upward force
• Rift Valley

​(c) Explain five ways in which faulting is of significance to human activities 

• Faulting leads to formation of features that form beautiful scenery which attract tourists
• Faulting leads to formation of lakes that are important fishing grounds/ tourists sites / mining sites/ provide water for irrigation/ for domestic use/ industrial use.
• Faulting causes displacement of rocks which exposes minerals that are mined
• Faulting may lead to the formation of mountains/ horst which attract rainfall that give rise to rivers which provide water for industrial/ domestic/ agricultural use/ industrial use for production of H.E.P
• Block mountains formed through faulting lead to formation of relief rainfall on the windward side which favours agriculture/ and settlement / forestry
• Subsidence of land as a result of faulting may lead to loss of life and property
• Springs occurring of the foist of fault scarps attract settlements
• Faulting creates deep faults which are passages of stream jets which may be utilized for geothermal power production
• Rivers flowing over fault scarps may form waterfalls
• When faulting occurs across a ridge it may provide a dip which could form a mountain pass where transport and communication lines can be constructed/ may hinder development of transport.

​Related Geography Searches on  internal land forming processes, folding Form 2 Level

Read More