A
tectonic 'window' is a
geologic structure formed by
erosion or
normal faulting on a
thrust system. In such a system the
hanging wall block is called a
nappe. When erosion or normal faulting produces a hole in the nappe where the underlying
autochthonous rocks
crop out this is called a window.
Windows can be almost any size, from a couple of
meters to hundreds of
kilometers.