Upthrown

Upthrown refers to a geological term describing rock strata that have been elevated relative to adjacent rock. This elevation is typically caused by faulting, where a large block of the Earth's crust is pushed upward. The fault line acts as a boundary, with one side of the rock mass being higher than the other. This process is a common feature in mountain building and other tectonic activities.

When rocks are upthrown, the higher block is known as the upthrown block or hanging wall, while the lower block is called the downthrown block or footwall. The relative movement along the fault plane dictates whether a block is upthrown or downthrown. The geological forces involved can range from gradual uplift over millions of years to rapid seismic events.

Upthrown rock formations are significant for geologists as they provide clues about the history of tectonic forces and the geological evolution of a region. Studying the type of rock and its position in the upthrown block can reveal information about the Earth's crustal movements and the processes that shaped the landscape. The resulting topography often features distinct scarps or cliffs where the fault line is exposed.