footwall

[ foot-wawl ]

noun

1. Mining. the top of the rock stratum underlying a vein or bed of ore. Compare hanging wall ( def 1 ).
2. Geology. a mass of rock lying beneath a fault plane.

footwall

/ ˈfʊtˌwɔːl /

noun

1. See hanging wall
   the rocks on the lower side of an inclined fault plane or mineral vein Compare hanging wall

footwall

/ ft′wôl′ /

1. The block of rock lying under an inclined geologic fault plane.
2. See more at faultCompare hanging wall

Word History and Origins

Origin of footwall¹

First recorded in 1640–50; foot + wall

Example Sentences

But the hardest rock of the hanging or footwall, however, is seldom as hard as the harder class of ore.

From Project Gutenberg

To these timbers are fixed small timbers along the footwall, to which are fastened the lagging and ladders.

From Project Gutenberg

Stringers are given the same characteristics as veins, but divided into hanging, footwall, and other varieties.

From Project Gutenberg

The ratio of ore area to total explored area, measured in the plane of the footwall, was 21-½ per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

The total area of ore measured on the footwall was 785 acres.

From Project Gutenberg