No, a hanging wall and a footwall are not the same in geology. The hanging wall is the block of rock above a fault line that moves down relative to the footwall, which is the block of rock below the fault line that moves up.
The footwall
The hanging wall is the upper block in a fault where movement has occurred, while the footwall is the lower block that has not moved. The hanging wall moves over the footwall in response to stress within the Earth's crust.
In a normal fault, the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall, creating extensional forces. In a reverse fault, the hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall, generating compressional forces.
When a fault is not vertical, a hanging wall and footwall are formed. The hanging wall is the block of rock above the fault plane, while the footwall is the block of rock below the fault plane. These terms help geologists describe the displacement and movement along the fault.
No, a hanging wall and a footwall are not the same in geology. The hanging wall is the block of rock above a fault line that moves down relative to the footwall, which is the block of rock below the fault line that moves up.
The footwall
In a normal fault, the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall, whereas in a reverse fault, the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall.
The hanging wall is the upper block in a fault where movement has occurred, while the footwall is the lower block that has not moved. The hanging wall moves over the footwall in response to stress within the Earth's crust.
In a normal fault, the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall, creating extensional forces. In a reverse fault, the hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall, generating compressional forces.
In a non-vertical fault (where the fault plane dips), the footwall is the section of the fault that lies under the fault, while the hanging wall lies over the fault.The names come about from the mining industry because important ore minerals were commonly deposited along fault planes. In a mine along a fault, the miner would be standing on the block lower block and hanging his lantern from the upper block (hence, foot wall and hanging wall).In perfectly vertical faults, you cannot designate a footwall or a hanging wall.
thrust
That type of fault is called a reverse fault. Reverse faults are characterized by the hanging wall block moving up and over the footwall block at a steep angle, typically greater than 45 degrees.
Reverse Fault
Reverse Fault
A normal fault.
Thrust