normal fault

[ nawr-muhl fawlt ]

noun

, Geology.

1. a fault along an inclined plane in which the upper side or hanging wall appears to have moved downward with respect to the lower side or footwall ( reverse fault ).

normal fault

1. A geologic fault in which the hanging wall has moved downward relative to the footwall. Normal faults occur where two blocks of rock are pulled apart, as by tension.
2. Compare reverse faultSee Note and illustration at fault

Word History and Origins

Origin of normal fault¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

A normal fault with a hade of 15°, the original fault scarp remaining.

From Project Gutenberg