Horst (geology)

In physical geography and geology, a horst is a raised fault block bounded by normal faults.^[1] Horsts are typically found together with grabens. While a horst is lifted or remains stationary, the grabens on either side subside.^[2] This is often caused by extensional forces pulling apart the crust. Horsts may represent features such as plateaus, mountains, or ridges on either side of a valley.^[3] Horsts can range in size from small fault blocks up to large regions of stable continent that have not been folded or warped by tectonic forces.^[2]

The word Horst in German means "mass" or "heap" and was first used in the geological sense in 1883 by Eduard Suess in The Face of the Earth.^[4]^[5]^{[note 1]}

^ Fossen H. (2010-07-15). Structural Geology. Cambridge University Press. p. 154. ISBN 9781139488617.
^ ^a ^b One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Horst". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 740.
^ "Horst and Graben". National Park Service. 2020-04-22.
^ "horst". Etymonline.
^ Suess, Edward (1904). The Face of the Earth. Translated by Sollas, Hertha B C. Clarendon Press.

Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).

[Fossen-1] Fossen H. (2010-07-15). Structural Geology. Cambridge University Press. p. 154. ISBN 9781139488617.

[EB1911-2] One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Horst". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 740.

[3] "Horst and Graben". National Park Service. 2020-04-22.

[4] "horst". Etymonline.

[5] Suess, Edward (1904). The Face of the Earth. Translated by Sollas, Hertha B C. Clarendon Press.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[note 1]