Fracture systems in normal fault zones crosscutting sedimentary rocks, Northwest German Basin

► Normal-fault related fracture systems are studied in carbonate and clastic rocks. ► Apertures of fault-related fractures are higher than those of background fractures. ► In fault damage zones there are more non-stratabound fractures than in host rocks. ► Effective Young's moduli in carbonate damage zones are lower than in clastic rocks. ► In carbonates fracture systems are more affected by normal faults than in clastic rocks.