Which type of stress is associated with reverse faults?

Reverse faults are primarily associated with compressional stress. This type of stress occurs when two rock masses are pushed together, resulting in a shortening of the crust. When compressional stress acts on rocks, it can lead to the formation of reverse faults, where one block of rock is thrust over another. This is a key mechanism in mountain-building processes as the layers of rock are pushed upward and folded in response to the intense pressures they encounter.

In contrast, tensional stress is related to normal faults, where the crust is being pulled apart. Shear stress involves lateral movement of rock layers against each other but does not contribute to the formation of reverse faults. Elastic stress, while important in the overall behavior of rocks, does not specifically define the conditions that lead to the formation of faults of any type, including reverse faults. Thus, compressional stress is the driving force behind the characteristics and behavior of reverse faults.