Final answer:
The most common type of fault is the strike-slip fault, known for its role in major earthquakes. Types of faults include normal, reverse (thrust), and strike-slip, with normal faults common at divergent boundaries and thrust faults at convergent boundaries. The San Andreas Fault is an example of a significant strike-slip fault.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common type of fault is the strike-slip fault, especially in terms of those that are significant in shaping the Earth's surface and are often associated with major earthquakes. To clarify further, faults are fractures in the Earth's crust where blocks of rock have slipped past each other. A normal fault occurs when the crust is extended and the hanging wall drops down relative to the footwall. A reverse fault, including a thrust fault, happens during crustal compression, making the hanging wall move upward over the footwall.
In regions of continental rifting, normal faults are prevalent, while thrust faults are more common in zones of crustal compression, such as at convergent plate boundaries. The San Andreas Fault in California is a classic example of a major strike-slip fault where two blocks move horizontally past each other.
Understanding the various types of faults and their movements is essential in geology, especially for assessing earthquake risks and interpreting the geological history of an area.