Most faults are the result of repeated displacements over a long period of time. The fault plane of a normal fault dips away from the uplifted crustal block. Faulting occurs in response to extension. The fault plane of a reverse fault dips beneath the uplifted crustal block. Faulting occurs in response to compression.
Crustal blocks slide past each other.
The slip may be left lateral or right lateral. A thrust fault is a reverse fault with a gently incline, or low angle of dip. EQs occur on faults. When an EQ occurs on one of these faults, the rock on one side of the fault slips with respect to the other. The fault surface can be vertical, horizontal, or at some angle to the surface of the earth.