Which type of fault is primarily associated with convergent plate boundaries?

Thrust faults are primarily associated with convergent plate boundaries due to the nature of the tectonic forces at play in these regions. At convergent boundaries, two tectonic plates move toward each other, which often leads to one plate being forced over the other. This process, known as subduction, creates conditions that are conducive to the formation of thrust faults.

In a thrust fault, the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall, which is a result of compressional forces exerted by the colliding plates. These faults typically accommodate the shortening of the crust that occurs during the convergence of the plates. Thrust faults can be quite steep and can develop at varying angles, but the key characteristic is their association with compression and the upward movement of the overriding plate.

While reverse faults are also associated with compression and the upward movement of one block relative to another, thrust faults are specifically the type that occurs at shallower angles and are more commonly found in compressional environments at convergent plate boundaries, making them the correct choice in this context.