Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
footwall [foo t-wawl] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- Mining. the top of the rock stratum underlying a vein or bed of ore.Compare hanging wall(def 1).
- Geology. a mass of rock lying beneath a fault plane.
Origin of footwall First recorded in 1640–50; foot + wall Examples from the Web for footwall Historical Examples of footwall
The total area of ore measured on the footwall was 785 acres.
The Economic Aspect of Geology
C. K. Leith
But the hardest rock of the hanging or footwall, however, is seldom as hard as the harder class of ore.
Georgius Agricola
To these timbers are fixed small timbers along the footwall, to which are fastened the lagging and ladders.
Georgius Agricola
Stringers are given the same characteristics as veins, but divided into hanging, footwall, and other varieties.
Georgius Agricola
The ratio of ore area to total explored area, measured in the plane of the footwall, was 21-½ per cent.
The Economic Aspect of Geology
C. K. Leith
British Dictionary definitions for footwall footwall noun
- the rocks on the lower side of an inclined fault plane or mineral veinCompare hanging wall
footwall in Science footwall [fut′wôl′]
- The block of rock lying under an inclined geologic fault plane. See more at fault. Compare hanging wall.