If a stream crosses a strike-slip fault without changing its course, what can be concluded?

When a stream crosses a strike-slip fault without altering its course, it implies that the movement along the fault has occurred after the stream already established its path. In a strike-slip fault, the primary movement is lateral, where two blocks slide past each other. If the stream does not change direction at the fault line, it suggests that the fault was not active at the time the stream was forming and that any significant movement took place after the stream’s course was defined.

This understanding is essential because it reflects the relative timing of geological events. The stream’s uninterrupted flow indicates stability in its course, reinforcing the idea that any lateral displacement associated with the fault happened subsequent to the stream's establishment.