MOUNTAIN BUILDING
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Transcript of MOUNTAIN BUILDING
Chapter 20
MOUNTAIN BUILDING
Mountains are spectacular features that can occur as individual peaks or immense ranges that cover many kilometers of landscape
How these geographic features are supported relies solely on the relationships between the Earth’s crust and the underlying mantle
70% of the Earth’s surface is below sea level and 30% lies above the Earth’s surface
Crust – Mantle Relationships
Most of the Earth’s topography follows a pattern of two modes of elevation: 0 to 1 km above sea level 4 to 5 km below sea level
• These two modes reflect basic differences in density and thickness between continental and oceanic crust Oceanic crust is made of basalt, which is more dense than
continental crust (made of granite) Although oceanic crust is more dense, the continental crust extends
deeper into the mantle under mountain ranges due to the thickness of the mountain ranges
Likewise, the continental crust extends higher above the Earth’s surface due to its lower density reading than oceanic crust
Earth’s Topography
Continental Crust is less dense and thicker than oceanic crust, so it extends higher above Earth’s surface and deeper into the mantle
The displacement of the mantle by Earth’s continental and oceanic crust
The crust and mantle are in equilibrium with one another; meaning, the force of gravity on the mass of crust (mountain range) is balanced by buoyancy A good model for isostasy is the water line of a
boat when someone boards or leaves the boat
ISOSTAsY
As the mountain peaks are eroded, mass decreases and the roots become smaller. The balance between erosion and the decrease in root size will continue for hundreds of millions of years until both mountains and roots disappear. (Ex. The Ozarks in Missouri)
The slow process of the crust’s rising due to removal of overlying material is called isostatic rebound. This is the reason that some mountain ranges, such as the Appalachian Mountains, still exist today!
Isostasy and Erosion
Appalachian MountainsThe Appalachian mountains are the oldest mountain range on Earth and are believed to have once been connected to Europe as evidence shows similar geologic structures and rocks in this region
Mountains form as result of tectonic interactions.
Orogeny is the process that forms all mountain ranges, which results in broad, linear regions of deformation known as orogenic belts.
The greatest variety and tallest belts are found at convergent boundaries.
Processes that build mountains
At the convergent boundaries, two plates come together causing intense deformation of land.
Examples of deformation include folding, faulting, metamorphism, and igneous intrusion.
Each type of convergent boundary makes a different type of mountain range.
Convergent – Boundary Mountains
When oceanic plates collide with one another, one goes down into the mantle to form a subduction zone
As parts of the subducted plate melts, magma is forced upward to form volcanic peaks referred to as an island arc
Oceanic – Oceanic Convergence
This boundary is similar to oceanic-oceanic because the convergence of the two plates creates a subduction zone and trenches
However, major mountain belts can result from this convergent boundary
As the oceanic plate subducts it pushes up the continental plate, resulting in the beginning of orogeny
At these boundaries, compression causes the continental crust to fold and thicken
Oceanic – Continental Convergence
Forms Earth’s tallest mountain rangesDue to low density of the plates, neither
subduct. Instead, both plates receive energy transfer from the collision. This causes the crust to become highly folded and faulted
Famous example = the Himalayas
Continental – Continental Convergence
Divergent Boundary MountainsMagma is less dense than surrounding material
so it is forced upward and warms the overlying lithosphere. The lithosphere then bulges upward and is higher than the surrounding oceanic crust to form a gently sloping mountain range
Ocean ridge mountain ranges can be thousands of kilometers wide and are composed primarily of igneous rocks
Sometimes, magma pushes through plutons and erupts onto the seafloor to form igneous rocks called pillow basalts
Other Types of Mountains
Sometimes, mountains and peaks form in places far removed from tectonic boundaries
Three nonboundary types of mountains include:
1. Uplifted Mountains2. Fault-Block Mountains3. Volcanic Peaks
Nonboundary Mountains
Form when large regions of Earth have been slowly forced upward as a unit
The Adirondacks in New York
Uplifted Mountains
Form when large pieces of crust are tilted, uplifted, or dropped downward between large faults
Grand Tetons in Wyoming
Fault – Block Mountains
Volcanic PeaksVolcanoes that form
along oceanic-continental convergent margins are typically part of long mountain ranges
Volcanoes that form over hot spots are solitary peaks that form far from plate boundaries
Volcanic peaks of Hawaii formed over hot spots, such as Mauna Kea