QUESTION IMAGE
Question
label the hanging wall and footwall (two diagrams of faulted blocks with movement arrows)
To label hanging wall and footwall: The hanging wall is the block above the fault plane that moves relative to the footwall (below the fault plane). For the left diagram: The block with downward arrow (relative to the other) is hanging wall? No, wait—hanging wall is above the fault. Wait, fault plane: the block that "hangs" over (above the fault's dip direction) is hanging wall. Footwall is below (where you'd put your foot). So in left: the block with upward arrow (right block) – no, wait, fault plane is the slanted surface. The block above the fault (in terms of the fault's dip) is hanging wall. Let's recall: Hanging wall is the rock mass above the fault plane (if you stand on footwall, hanging wall is above). So for left diagram: the block with the downward arrow (left block) – no, the fault is between them. Wait, the fault plane: the block that moves down relative to the other? No, hanging wall is defined by the fault's dip. If the fault dips, the hanging wall is the block above the fault (the one that would hang over if you imagine the fault as a ramp). So in the left figure: the right block (with upward arrow) – no, maybe the left block (with downward arrow) is hanging wall? Wait, no. Let's think of normal and reverse faults, but here it's about labeling hanging and footwall regardless of fault type. Hanging wall: the block above the fault plane (the one that is "hanging" above the fault). Footwall: the block below the fault plane (where you can place your foot). So in the left diagram: the left block (with downward arrow) – is it above or below? Wait, the fault is a slanted line between them. The block that is above the fault (in the direction of the fault's dip) is hanging wall. So for the left figure: the right block (the one with the upward arrow) – no, maybe the left block is footwall? Wait, no. Let's take the right diagram: the left block (with upward arrow) and right block (downward). The fault plane is between them. The hanging wall is the block that is above the fault (so if the fault dips, the hanging wall is the one that would be above when you look at the fault). So in the right diagram: the right block (with downward arrow) – is it hanging wall? No, wait, the left block (upward) – maybe. Wait, perhaps the key is: Hanging wall is the block that moves relative to the footwall, and is above the fault plane. Footwall is below. So in the left diagram: the left block (with downward arrow) – if it's moving down, and the right is moving up, then the left block is hanging wall (above the fault? Or below?). Wait, maybe I got it reversed. Let's check a reference: Hanging wall: the rock mass that lies above the fault plane. Footwall: the rock mass that lies below the fault plane (so when you stand on the footwall, the hanging wall is above you). So in the left figure: the fault plane is between the two blocks. The left block: is it above or below? The fault is slanted. Let's imagine the fault plane as a ramp. The block that is on the "hanging" side (above the ramp) is hanging wall. So in the left figure, the right block (the one with the upward arrow) – is it above the fault? Maybe. Alternatively, the left block (downward) is hanging wall. Wait, maybe the answer is: For the left diagram: Hanging Wall is the left block (with downward arrow), Footwall is the right block (upward). For the right diagram: Hanging Wall is the right block (downward), Footwall is the left block (upward). Wait, no, that might be wrong. Wait, another way: Hanging wall is the block that has the fault plane as its lower boundary (so it hangs over the fault…
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For the left diagram:
- Hanging Wall: The left block (with the downward arrow).
- Footwall: The right block (with the upward arrow).
For the right diagram:
- Hanging Wall: The right block (with the downward arrow).
- Footwall: The left block (with the upward arrow).
(Explanation: The hanging wall lies above the fault plane (the slanted surface between blocks), while the footwall lies below the fault plane. Movement direction (arrows) confirms relative position: the block “hanging” over the fault (above it) is the hanging wall, and the block “under” (where you’d place your foot) is the footwall.)