ASBOG Practice Exam

In a reverse fault, the defining characteristic is that the hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall. This upward movement occurs due to compressional forces that push the rock masses together. In essence, the hanging wall shifts upwards, which can often result in the creation of mountains and uplifts in the earth's crust. When considering fault mechanics, a reverse fault typically forms in settings where tectonic plates are colliding, causing the crust to shorten. This differs from a normal fault, where the hanging wall moves downward, and a strike-slip fault, where the movement is primarily horizontal or sideways. Therefore, option C accurately describes the upward movement of the hanging wall in a reverse fault scenario.