The Recognition of Fault Scarps

Fault block mountains have long been recognized in the genetic series of land forms. Physiographers now distinguish fault scarps from fault-line scarps or erosion scarps. The criteria for recognizing these two kinds of scarps are considered in this paper for the purpose of reaching a better understanding of their application and significance. It is shown that many of the features which are commonly regarded as evidence of fault scarps are generally possessed also by fault-line scarps, which are formed by differential erosion on previously faulted substructures.