User:Stephenonash/sandbox

ARTICLE EVALUATION:

Content-

The total content of the fault trace article is minimal at best. While I'm glad to see that a page exists, this may very well be the lightest Wikipedia article I have ever seen. It is truly a stub in the strictest sense of the term. Luckily, through a combination of previous contributions, it does, in fact, contain a quick summary and an image, which is massively helpful in bolstering my understanding of the topic and what to look for in order to improve it. On a categorical level, the information is generally clear and scientific in nature, although the summary tries to explain two separate definitions, one of which should likely be explained elsewhere. Additionally, the image has an excessively long caption which could benefit from a rephrasing. On the bright side, the article doers at least link to other articles about the broader topic of faults and the example fault seen in the image. I feel confident that, through the help of the tectonics community, I will be able to tremendously bolster the educational value of the article during my semester's work.

Tone-

The few lines already in place seem neutral, although there is a questionable "best" claim in the image.

Sources-

There is only one link used as a source which is no longer functional, although it was from a reputable source in the USGS, so, currently, all information is effectively unsourced.

Talk-

There are absolutely no comments on the Talk page, although it is part of 3 WikiProjects: Geology, Maps, and Earthquakes, where it is rated a stub-class, low-importance article.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

“Fault Trace.” Earthquake Glossary, United States Geological Survey, earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossary/?term=fault%20trace.

Martel, S (1997). “Effects of cohesive zones on small faults and implications for secondary fracturing and fault trace geometry”''. Journal of Structural Geology.'' Volume(19): 835-847. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8141(97)00002-3.

Steeling, M, Wesnousky, S, & Kunihiko, S (1996). “Fault trace complexity, cumulative slip, and the shape of the magnitude-frequency distribution for strike-slip faults: A global survey”. Geophysical Journal International. Volume(124): 833-868. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1996.tb05641.

Torabi, S, & Berg, S (2011). "Scaling of fault attributes: A review". Marine and Petroleum Geology. Volume(28): 1444-1460. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2011.04.003.

Yielding, G, Needham, T, & Jones, H (1996). “Sampling of fault populations using sub-surface data: a review”. Journal of Structural Geology. Volume(18): 135-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8141(96)80039-3.

Young-Seog, K, & Sanderson, D (2005). “The relationship between displacement and length of faults: a review”. Earth Science Reviews. Volume(68): 317-334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2004.06.003.

DRAFT:

A fault trace describes the intersection of a geological fault with the Earth's surface, which leaves a visible disturbance on the surface. The term also applies to a line plotted on a geological map to represent a fault. These fractures tend to occur when a slip surface protrudes from a fault core, especially during an earthquake. This tends to occur with fault displacement, in which surfaces on both sides of a fault, known as fault blocks, separate horizontally or vertically.

The two main forms are the clearly titled "horizontal separation" and "dip separation," which consists of a horizontal and vertical component. More significant faults can have a damage zone around them, comprising smaller faults and geologic structures created by the seismologic processes that created the faults themselves. These damage zones are where fault traces can be found. While faults were once presumed to be mere lines in the Earth, they are now known more so as full zones with complex geology, which is frequently different in properties than the geologic properties of minerals surrounding it.

New Sources:

Torabi, Anita; Berg, Silje Støren (2011-8). "Scaling of fault attributes: A review". Marine and Petroleum Geology. 28 (8): 1444–1460. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2011.04.003.