Horst and graben

The features are created by normal faulting and rifting caused by crustal extension.

Each feature can range in size from a few centimeters up to tens of kilometers, and the vertical displacement can be up to several thousand meters.

[2] A horst is a section of crust that has been lifted relative to the blocks on either side, which is a result of its bounding faults dipping away from each other.

[2] Horsts can form features such as plateaus, mountain ranges or ridges on either side of the valleys.

[1] A graben is a section of crust that has lowered relative to the blocks on either side, which is a result of its bounding faults dipping towards each other.