horst
Elevated crustal block
A horst is a raised block of the earth's crust bounded by parallel faults, with the land on either side having dropped down.
The term comes from geology, where it describes features created by tectonic forces: The mountain range formed as a horst between two rift valleys.
The opposite—a down-dropped block—is a graben.
Downdropped block between faults
- faultImperfection or blame
- riftCrack or estrangement
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- plateauFlat highland area
uplift · block · extensional · crust · lithosphere · strata · bedrock · outcrop
Flat highland area
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
- mesaFlat-topped steep-sided elevation
- butteIsolated flat-topped hill
highland · elevation · cliff · mountain · terrain · topography · summit · knoll
Added part or duration
- riftingGeological spreading apart
- crustalOf outer rock layer
- tensionStretched or strained state
- faultingAttributing blame to another
displacement · subsidence · divergent · seismology · earthquake · asthenosphere · isostasy · geophysics
graben
Downdropped block between faults
- faultImperfection or blame
- riftCrack or estrangement
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
plateau · uplift · block · extensional · crust · lithosphere · strata · bedrock · outcrop · formation
plateau
Flat highland area
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
- mesaFlat-topped steep-sided elevation
butte · highland · elevation · cliff · mountain · terrain · topography · summit · knoll · crag
extension
Added part or duration
faulting · displacement · subsidence · divergent · seismology · earthquake · asthenosphere · isostasy · geophysics · folding