What does a thrust fault typically have in terms of its angle of dip?

A thrust fault is characterized by a shallow angle of dip, typically less than 45 degrees. This type of fault occurs in areas experiencing compressional stresses, where one block of earth is pushed over another block. The low angle of the fault plane makes thrust faults particularly important in mountain-building processes, as they allow for the stacking of geological layers. The shallow dip enables the movement of large masses of rock over one another, which contributes to the formation of structures like fold mountains.

In contrast, other options present angles of dip that are either too steep or not applicable to thrust faults. Thrust faults operate under different conditions from steeply dipping faults, which are more associated with normal or reverse faults. Hence, the shallow angle is a distinguishing feature that aids in identifying thrust faults in geological mapping.