Mountain Building

Question 1

What type mountain is caused by Oceanic-Continental Convergence, what does it tend to create?

Answer 1

Andean-type mountain range

Question 2

Describe andean type mountain range

Answer 2

Creates two parallel mountain ranges. One is a volcanic arch mountain range inland off the coast. the other is caused by the uplift and accumulation of sediment and ocean strata at the accretionary wedge on the coast.

Question 3

Continent-Continent Convergence

Answer 3

Collisional Mountain Building. Himalayan.
Energy of collision is absorbed by the crust, it is then deformed and broken. Stacks of deformed thrust sheets form. Accretionary wedge is thrust inland and uplifted.

Question 4

forearc basin

Answer 4

Area between the Uplifted accretionary wedge and the volcanic mountain range in an andean type mountain range

Question 5

Terrane

Answer 5

crustal fragment with a geoogical history different to that of the adjoining terranes (continents).
Microcontinent

Question 6

Continental Collisions

Answer 6

Himalayas. collisions resulting in folding and faulting.

Question 7

Suture

Answer 7

The zone where two continents clash and collide.

Question 8

Fault Block Mountains

Answer 8

bounded by high angle normal faults that gradually flatten with depth. Form in response to broad uplifting.

Question 9

Isostasy

Answer 9

Earth’s low density crust floats on the high density mantle. The crusts floats on the mantle in a gravitational balance.

Question 10

Why do compressional mountains stand high above the surrounding terrain.

Answer 10

Compressional mountains like the Himalayas create deep roots, with greater weight where the mountain stands highest, the crust begins to sink deeper. Through isostasy, it is uplifted by the stretching of the crust and then is higher than it once was.

Question 11

Subsidence

Answer 11

When the weight of a mountain causes the crust to sag towards the center of the earth, followed by uplift because of isostasy. Compressional stretch causes subsidence at the bottom of the crust, ductile spreading

Question 12

Explain the difference in subsidence and uplift during ductile spreading as opposed to compressional stress.

Answer 12

Compressional stretch causes subsidence at the bottom of the crust and uplift at the top, ductile spreading causes subsidence at the top and uplift at the bottom. During ductile spreading mountain ranges start to collapse under their own weight.

Question 13

Describe Alpine type mountain range

Answer 13

Continental collision, subducting ocean inbetween colliding continents.

Question 14

Describe Cordillera Type mountain ranges

Answer 14

Accretion of microcontinents and or volcanic arcs, stacking of terraine.

Question 15

Describe the relationship between Isostasy and Erosion

Answer 15

Once a mountain is formed and has a root, isostasy continues to play a role. As erosions erodes the mountain, it become lighter, but it does not lose height, because isostatic adjustment uplifts the mountain and its peak

Question 16

Thermal Isostasy

Answer 16

Increased temperatures causes thermal expansion and isostatic uplift.

Question 17

disconformity

Answer 17

strata on either side of the disconformity are essentially parallel.