Visual Glossary
Hanging wall
Foot wall
We classify faults by how
the two rocky blocks on either side of a fault move
relative to each other. The one you see here is a reverse
fault. Take a look at the side that shows the fault and arrows indicating
movement. See the block farthest to the right that is shaped
kind of like a foot? That's the foot wall. Now look at
the block on the other side of the fault. See how it's resting or hanging on
top of the footwall block? That's the hanging wall.
Here's another way to think of it: the hanging wall block
is always above the
fault plane, while the foot wall block is always below the
fault plane.
|
