The direction of fault movement varies dependent upon the forces working within the crust. Normal faults result from tension forces. This is the predominant type of fault that occurs in Utah. The mountains are forced up by the pressure released and the valley is dropped down. Typically, the valley drops more than the mountains are pushed up.
Reverse faults result from compression forces.
These faults often occur in areas of folding in mountain belts. The rocks are pressed together and one section of rock will slip upward. The shift may produce a thrust or buckled over section of rock. The movement in a reverse fault is in a predominantly vertical direction similar to a normal fault. Lateral faults occur when two horizontal sections of rock slide along each other and shift in a predominantly horizontal direction.