The relationship between the geometry of normal faults and that of the sedimentary layers in their hanging walls

Abstract We derive an analytical expression that relates the shape of a fault in cross-section to the shape of the bedding horizons in its hanging wall block. The expression assumes that the hanging wall deforms by simple shear and that the footwall remains undeformed throughout. Although this paper concentrates on normal faults, the expression is equally valid and applicable to thrust faults. The direction of simple shear in the hanging wall block is arbitrary and has a dramatic effect on the predicted fault or bedding geometry. There is no reason to believe that the simple shear occurs on vertical planes, as is commonly assumed in graphical approaches to this problem, and ignoring the presence of inclined simple shear is likely to lead to considerable underestimates of the amount of extension across normal faults and in the amount of shortening across thrusts. Similar though more complicated expressions can be obtained when compaction within the hanging wall block is taken into account. For a planar normal fault such compaction may result in the development of a hanging wall syncline.