upthrow

Hurl toward sky

Upthrow is a geological term for the vertical displacement of rock strata on one side of a fault, specifically the side that has moved upward relative to the other.

The word also serves as a verb meaning to throw upward or to displace rock in this manner.

The upthrow side of the fault exposed older limestone layers.

Outside technical contexts, upthrow occasionally appears as a literary alternative to upward throw.

geology

fault

Imperfection or blame

displacementRemoval from usual location
strataParallel geological layers
tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation

uplift · thrust · horst · graben · faulting · crustal · bedrock · fissure · anticline · syncline

motion

hurl

Throw with great force

tossLight, casual throw
flingForceful toss, or tryst
heaveForceful lift or throw

launch · propel · catapult · lob · cast · pitch · thrust · ejection · projection · discharge

volcanic

eruption

Violent sudden release

lavaErupted liquid stone
pyroclasticHot eruption debris
tephraEjected volcanic material

ejecta · projectile · bomb · ash · plume · vent · explosive · magma · scoria · pumice

Opposites

vertical fault displacement direction

upthrowdownthrow

Fault's depressed side

subsidence · graben · depression

vertical throwing direction

upthrowdownthrow

Fault's depressed side

throw down · cast down · drop

release vs. reception of thrown object

upthrowcatch

Seize or snag

reception · receive · snag

Family

throw, overthrow, thrown, throwing, threw, throws, upheaval, overthrown, thrower

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