By comparing fault growth index with fault throw analysis, their hypothesis conditions of application, application range, as well as virtue and defect of fault activity intensity research are analyzed, it is recognized, on the basis of accurate stratigraphic correlation, the fault growth index demands that there is consistent depositional velocity on different part in a depression and no depositional break on the both sides of a fault, fault throw analysis is based on the hypothesis that there is, on the both sides, consistent erosion sediment thickness at eroded area, and that it is not necessary to consider depositional break. it is proved that growth index and fault throw can be used to research the active intensity and active history of inversion faults and growth faults in compressional basins and fault basins in some extent. But the fault throw is more intuitionistic and reliable when it is used to analyze the active intensity of growth faults especially those growth faults which are absence of the upthrow sides stratum and have relative evolution differential. Comparative study of different geochronological methods can give more valuable information of evolution and activity of the faults of the same area.
