Mountain

 Orogeny refers to the forces and events that lead to a large structural deformation of
Earth’s lithosphere.
 The word came from the Greek oros for “mountain” and genesis for “creation”. Orogeny is
a product of movements of tectonic plates.
 During orogenesis, deformed rock called orogens or orogenic belts are formed as the
continental plate is crumpled and pushed upward. The end product of this geological
process is a landmass we simply call as a mountain.
 Geomorphology
The science that is specifically concerned with the study of mountains .
 Stages of Mountain Building

1. Stage one – Accumulation of Sediments

Mountain belts are composed of igneous rocks
and sediments. These accumulated layers can
reach up to several kilometers in thickness.
Through weathering and erosions, particles are
released from rocks, and sediments are
transported to the edge of the continental crust.
 Stages of Mountain Building
2. Stage two – Orogenic Period of Rock Deformation and
Crustal Uplift
During this period, the accumulated sediments are deformed
by compressional forces from the collision of tectonic plates.
There are three types of tectonic convergence: arc-continental,
oceanic-continental and continental-continental. Arc-
continental convergence is observed when an island arc
collides with the edge of the continental plate. In an Oceanic-
continental convergence, the collision of ocean and
continental plates allow the accretion of marine sedimentary
deposits to the edge of the continent. Lastly, continental-
continental convergence occurs when an ocean basin closes
and the two continental plates collide.
 Stages of Mountain Building
3. Stage three – Period of Crustal Uplift
Caused by Isostatic Rebound and Block
Faulting
The final stage of orogenesis occurs at the
end of the plate convergence. At this
stage, crustal uplift occurs due to isostatic
rebound and block faulting. Isostatic
rebound is exhibited when a crust bends
the lithosphere into the asthenosphere,
causing the lower layer to flow out of the
way. The load or crust will then sink until
it reaches its buoyancy point. If anything
changes the load, isostatic rebound
occurs, and the crust rises back after a
geologic time
Through erosional forces, surface
materials from the mountains are
removed, allowing the weight of the
crust in this region to become
progressively less. When the weight
decreases the continental crust makes
an isostatic adjustment causing it to
float higher in the mantle. This stage
also causes block faulting. Here,
tensional forces exist in a horizontal
direction and breaks the continental
crust into pieces of smaller blocks.
Each fault block moves vertically at
different orientations and elevations to
compensate for the tensional forces and
eventually produces normal and graben
faults.
Mountain Range
 is the succession of many closely spaced mountains covering a particular portion of
Earth. It may consist of several valleys and river channels formed by water rushing
down from melting glaciers. Several mountain ranges that run roughly parallel to each
other are collectively termed as mountain belts.
 Himalayas
The Himalayan range is the highest
mountain system and also the
youngest in the world.
‘’Himalaya’’- house of snow, ‘’Snowy
Range’’
World’s highest peak
Regarded sacred in Hinduism and
Buddhism
 Andes
Longest mountain chain in the world –
West Coast of South America from
Cape Horn to Panama, distance of
4500 miles.
Divided into three sections:
Central Andes – Chilean and Peruvian
mountain system in Bolivia
Northern Andes- Columbia, Ecuador
and Venezuela
Southern Andes- Argentina and Chile
 Appalachians
Oldest mountain system in America
Ordovician Period, approximately 480
M years ago
The range is composed of 40 peaks
that reach over 6 000 feet.
Mount Mitchell in Northern Carolina,
6684 ft.
 Alps

Largest mountain system in Europe

Extend from southeastern France and
northern Italy, most of Switzerland,
part of South Germany and some
portion of Austria and Yugoslavia
Towering peaks is approximately 8000
feet and covered with ice and snow.
Mont Blanc in Pennine Alps France
 Rocky Mountain
Major mountain range in Western
North America
‘’Rockies’’, are group of jagged,
snow-capped peaks
New Mexico, British Columbia,
North Alberta Canada and US of
America
Approximate length is 6, 035 km
 Great Dividing Range
A mountain range that forms a Watershed
Eastern Highlands
Australia’s most substantial mountain range
and third longest land-based in the world
The crest of the range is defined by the
watershed or boundary between the drainage
basins of rivers that drain directly eastward
into the Pacific Ocean while those at the east
side flow toward the central lowlands up to
the Gold of Carpentaria.
Carboniferous Period, 300 M years
SELF-CHECK
 Orogeny

 refers to the forces and events that lead to a large structural

deformation of Earth’s lithosphere.
 Orogenesis

 What do you call the process where deformed rock called orogens or
orogenic belts are formed as the continental plate is crumpled and
pushed upward?
 Mountain Range

 This is the succession of many closely spaced mountains covering a

particular portion of Earth.
 - Accumulation of Sediments
- Orogenic Period of Rock Deformation and Crustal Uplift
- Period of Crustal Uplift Caused by Isostatic Rebound and Block Faulting

 What are the three stages of mountain building?

 Alps

 Largest mountain system in Europe

 Great Dividing Range

 This is a mountain range that forms a watershed and that was formed
300M years ago.
 Andes

 Longest mountain chain in the world – West Coast of South America

from Cape Horn to Panama, distance of 4500 miles.
 Himalayas

 What are highest mountain system and also the youngest in the world?
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KNOWLEDGE PAYS THE
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