Earth Science, 10th edition

Chapter 9: Mountain Building

 

 

    I. Deformation

       A. Deformation is a general term that refers to all changes in the original form and/or

             size of a rock body

       B. Most crustal deformation occurs along plate margins

 

  II. Folds

       A. Rocks bent into a series of waves

       B. Most folds result from compressional forces which shorten and thicken the crust

       C. Types of folds

             1. Anticline – upfolded, or arched, rock layers

             2. Syncline – downfolded rock layers

 

III. Faults

       A. Faults are fractures (breaks) in rocks along which appreciable displacement has taken place

       B. Types of faults

             1. Dip-slip fault

                  a. Movement along the inclination (dip) of fault plane

                  b. Parts of a dip-slip fault

                      1. Hanging wall – the rock above the fault surface

                      2. Footwall – the rock below the fault surface

                  c. Types of dip-slip faults

                      1. Normal fault

                      2. Reverse and thrust faults

             2. Strike-slip faults

                  a. Dominant displacement is horizontal and parallel to the trend, or strike

                  b. Transform fault

             3. Joints

                  a. Fractures along which no appreciable displacement has occurred

                  b. Most are formed when rocks in the outer-most crust are deformed

 

IV. Mountain belts

       A. Orogenesis refers to processes that collectively produce a mountain belt

       B. Mountain building at convergent boundaries

             1. Most mountain building occurs at convergent plate boundaries

             2. Aleutian-type mountain building

             3. Andean-type mountain building

             4. Continental collisions

             5. Continental accretion

                  a. Third mechanism of mountain building

                  b. Small crustal fragments collide with and accrete to continental margins

                  c. Accreted crustal blocks are called terranes

                  d. Occurred along the Pacific Coast

 

    

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