Strike-slip faults involve motion which is parallel to the strike of the fault--frequently described as a "side-by-side" motion. Strike-slip faults are further described as "right-lateral" (dextral) or "left-lateral" (sinistral) depending if the block opposite the viewer moved to the right or left respectively.

According to Anderson's model, both the maximum and minimum compressive stresses which drive the faulting are horizontal. Additionally, these stresses are oblique to the fault; the direction of maximum compressive stress is about 30 degrees from the fault strike. In the case of conjugate faults, the direction of maximum compressive stress bisects the acute angle (see below).

Go to Normal faults

Go to Thrust/Reverse faults