Faulted Coasts
Faulted coasts are chiefly associated with active continental margins where tectonic plates are colliding. They often correspond to bold coasts, characterized by continuously steep and straight scarps. However, terraced coastal areas dislocated by faults as well as fiord or estuary coasts controlled by faults have also to be included into the broad category of faulted coasts.
Sea cliffs and fault scarps
In some instances, coastal cliffs may be identified as fault scarps of direct tectonic origin which separate raised blocks of land from dropped ones that have been depressed below sea level. Plunging cliffs, cliffs which are not fronted by shore platforms or beaches and plunge abruptly into deep water, can be the product of recent faulting if down-thrown blocks have subsided to appreciable depths. In that case, and not only in sheltered waters and even if the resistance of rocks is not considerable, plunging conditions could persist long after faulting and the initial...
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Cross-references
Changing Sea Levels
Cliffed Coasts
Cliffs, Erosion Rates
Geochronology
Shore Platforms
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Paskoff, R.P. (2005). F. In: Schwartz, M.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3880-1_6
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