Visual Glossary

A reverse fault.
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Reverse fault
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.
Along a reverse fault one rocky block is pushed up relative to
rock on the other side.
Here's a way to tell a reverse fault from a normal 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 foot wall block? That's the hanging wall.
Think about this: if we hold the foot wall stationary,
where would the hanging wall go if we reversed gravity?
The hanging wall will slide upwards, right? When movement along a fault
is the reverse of what you would expect with normal gravity
we call them reverse faults!
More on faults |