footwall

American  

[foot-wawl] / ˈfʊtˌwɔl /

noun

1. Mining. the top of the rock stratum underlying a vein or bed of ore.

2. Geology. a mass of rock lying beneath a fault plane.

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footwall British  

/ ˈfʊtˌwɔːl /

noun

1. the rocks on the lower side of an inclined fault plane or mineral vein Compare hanging wall

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footwall Scientific  

/ ft′wôl′ /

1. The block of rock lying under an inclined geologic fault plane.

2. See more at fault Compare hanging wall

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Etymology

Origin of footwall

First recorded in 1640–50; foot + wall

Compare meaning

How does footwall compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hanging wall vs. footwall

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

footwall

In a dip-slip system, the footwall is below the fault plane and the hanging wall is above the fault plane.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

Normal faults form when the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

Dip-slip motion consists of relative up-and-down movement along a dipping fault between two blocks, the hanging wall, and footwall.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

If the fault develops in a situation of extension, then it will be a normal fault, because the extension allows the hanging wall to slide down relative to the footwall in response to gravity.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

To this stake another cord is tied and drawn straight into the tunnel to a point as far as it can go without being bent by the hangingwall or the footwall of the vein.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola