NOTE: If you can read this, then you have not entered our site from the proper entry point! In order for all links to function properly, you must start by clicking here.

Mountain Building

This is a drawing of a process which forms mountains on Earth. Click on image for full size version (40K GIF)

Mountains are built through a general process called "deformation" of the crust of the Earth. One example of deformation comes from the process of subduction.

When two sections of the Earth's lithosphere collide, rather than being subducted, where one slab of lithosphere is forced down to deeper regions of the Earth, the slabs pile into each other, causing one or both slabs can fold up like an accordion. This process elevates the crust, folds and deforms it heavily, and produces mountains. Mountain building and mantle subduction usually go together.

This process is illustrated in the figure to the left. The lithospheric slab on the right is subducted, while the force of the collision gradually causes the slab on the left to fold deeply. Along the way, melting of the subducted slab leads to volcano formation.

This is a drawing of a process which forms mountains on Earth. Click on image for full size version (40K GIF)

Mountains are built through a general process called "deformation" of the crust of the Earth. Deformation is a fancy word which could also mean "folding". An example of this kind of folding comes from the process described below.

When two sections of the Earth's lithosphere collide, rather than being subducted, where one slab of lithosphere is forced down to deeper regions of the Earth, the slabs pile into each other, causing one or both slabs can fold up like an accordion. This process elevates the crust, folds and deforms it heavily, and produces a mountain range. Mountain building and mantle subduction usually go together.

This process is illustrated in the figure to the left. The lithospheric slab on the right is subducted, while the force of the collision gradually causes the slab on the left to fold deeply. Along the way, melting of the subducted slab leads to volcano formation.

This is a drawing of a process which forms mountains on Earth. Click on image for full size version (40K GIF)

Mountains are built through a general process called "deformation" of the crust of the Earth. Deformation is a fancy word which could also mean "folding". An example of this kind of folding comes from the process described below.

When two sections of the Earth's crust collide, rather than being forced down to deeper regions of the Earth, the slabs of rock can pile into each other head on, causing one or both slabs to fold up like an accordion.

This process causes the crust to be

• 1.) raised, and
• 2.) folded up.

This process is illustrated in the figure to the left. A slab of the Earth's crust, on the right is forced to go down, while the slab on the left is forced to fold up. The slab on the right might eventually melt and form a volcano.