Mountain Formation (study Plate Tectonics Too)

Question 1

What are the four types of mountains?

Answer 1

1. Fold mountain
2. Block mountain
3. Volcanic mountain
4. Residual mountain

Question 2

How are mountains formed?

Answer 2

1. Folding
2. Faulting
3. Volcanic activity

Question 3

What is a saddle?

Answer 3

A broad and flat pass in a ridge between two mountains

Question 4

What is a hill

Answer 4

A landmass under 200 m in height

Question 5

What is a mountain range?

Answer 5

A line or chain of mountains

Question 6

What is a mountain’s summit?

Answer 6

It’s highest point

Question 7

What is a col?

Answer 7

A depression/low point in a mountain range providing a pass from one side to the other

Question 8

What is a knoll

Answer 8

A low detached rounded hill

Question 9

What is a pass?

Answer 9

A gap in a mountain range, allowing a passage through it

Question 10

What is a ridge?

Answer 10

A long narrow upland with steep sides

Question 11

What is the difference between folding and faulting?

Answer 11

Folding is caused by large scale earth movements when convergent plate margins push towards each other causing the crust to be slowly folded as it is being compressed whereas faulting occurs when earth’s movements create tension along forces that pull the crust apart

Question 12

What are the two types of folds?

Answer 12

Sync line (downwards) and anticline (upwards)

Question 13

Study diagrams showing faulting and folding

E.g. Rift valleys (pg 14) and asymmetrical fold (pg 12)

Answer 13

Study diagrams showing faulting and folding

E.g. Rift valleys (pg 14) and asymmetrical fold (pg 12)

Question 14

Examples of fold mountain ranges around the world

Answer 14

1. The Himalayas found between Nepal and China
2. The alps found in Europe
3. The Andes found in South America
4. The Pyrenees found on the border of France and Spain
5. The Rockies in Canada (passes through Albrta, Yukon,British Colombia)
6. The blue mountains in Jamaica
7. The central and northern ranges of Trinidad
8. Highest mountain in South America; Aconcagua 6962m

Question 15

What are faults

Answer 15

Fractures in the earth’s crust, created as the earth’s crust is pulled apart

Question 16

What is a fault plane?

Answer 16

The line of separation where rocks are displaced vertically or horizontally

Question 17

Types of faults

Answer 17

1. Normal fault: caused by tension forces moving in opposite directions
2. Tear fault: occurs when rocks move past each other with little vertical movement
3. Reverse fault: caused by compression when forces push rocks towards each other

Question 18

Block mountains

Answer 18

Formed when the earth’s crust cracks. This causes faulting created by tension or compression forces. Blocks of land are faulted upwards or downwards. This can cause the earth’s crust to lengthen or shorten

Question 19

What are volcanic mountains

Answer 19

Mountains formed by volcanic activity. Materials ejected from a volcanic eruption gradually build a cone shaped volcanic mountain. The shape of the cone depends on the type of lava produced.

Question 20

Types of lava

Answer 20

Basic lava: forms a wide cone or shield volcano e.g Mavna Loa, Hawaii

Acidic lava: forms a steep-sided cone or composite volcano e.g. Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

Question 21

What are residual mountains

Answer 21

The reduced mountain form remaining after a mountain form is exposed to weather elements and erodes

Some mountains reduce to low level landforms called peneplanes

Question 22

What is a plateau

Answer 22

High land area with a generally flat surface which descends on all sides

Question 23

What is a plain

Answer 23

A part of the landscape which is flat to gently undulating

Question 24

What is a mountain?

Answer 24

A landmass over 600 m high that have steep slides with distinct peaks. (They make up a large proportion of the earth’s surface