reverse fault | Energy Glossary

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reverse fault

1. n. []

A type of fault formed when the hanging wall fault block moves up along a fault surface relative to the footwall. Such movement can occur in areas where the Earth's crust is compressed. A thrust fault, sometimes called an overthrust if the displacement is particularly great, is a reverse fault in which the fault plane has a shallow dip, typically much less than 45o.

See related terms: overthrustthrust fault

Geologic fault types