They occur at the boundaries between horsts and grabens, and may be created by earthquakes.
A recent paper by Hilley et al discusses how to systematically identify them from airborne laser topographic data and estimate their ages, with examples in the Carrizo Plain and Mustang Ridge. The type occurring in Piedmont in the western U.S. are more easily dated than those in bedrock in the Aegean. Their shape evolves according to a diffusion equation smoothing out the sharp edge, with processes including bioturbation, rainsplash, and soil creep responsible for the slow change. They occur at the boundaries between horsts and grabens, and may be created by earthquakes. The Elkhorn one is associated with the San Andreas Fault. For 10 points, what is this geologic feature, in which a fault plane dislocates the ground surface and causes a step in elevation?
A recent paper by Hilley et al discusses how to systematically identify them from airborne laser topographic data and estimate their ages, with examples in the Carrizo Plain and Mustang Ridge.
fault scarp