What type of fault is created by tension stresses in the crust?

• A. Strike-slip fault
• B. Normal fault
• C. Reverse fault
• D. Thrust fault

Answer: (B)

The creation of a normal fault occurs in response to tension stresses acting on the Earth's crust. When the crust is subjected to these tensile forces, it experiences extension, which ultimately leads to the fracturing and displacement of rock layers. In a normal fault, the block of rock above the fault plane, known as the hanging wall, moves downward relative to the block below the fault plane, referred to as the footwall. This movement is indicative of the stretching and thinning of the crust, which is characteristic of the normal faulting process. This mechanism is often observed in mid-ocean ridges and rift zones, where the tectonic activity predominantly involves extensional forces.