footwall
/ˈfʊtˌwɔl/
noun
- The mass of rock beneath a fault plane or a mineral vein in geology.
- The earthquake shifted the footwall upward relative to the hanging wall.
- Miners dug into the footwall to extract the valuable ore.
- Geologists studied the footwall to understand the history of the fault.
- The lower side of a mine tunnel or excavation.
- The footwall provided a stable surface for laying tracks.
- Water pooled on the footwall of the mine shaft.
- Workers reinforced the footwall to prevent cave-ins.
Antonyms