1. Tensional Stress: This occurs when the crust is pulled apart (stretched). This stretching causes the rocks to break, forming a normal fault. The hanging wall (the block above the fault) moves down relative to the footwall (the block below the fault). This process is often associated with divergent plate boundaries where new crust is being formed.
2. Compressional Stress: This occurs when the crust is pushed together (compressed). The pressure causes the rocks to buckle, bend, and ultimately break, forming a reverse fault. In this case, the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall. These faults are commonly found at convergent plate boundaries where plates collide.
