Essay Sample on Mountain Formation: Orogeny, Volcanism & Tectonics

Introduction

Orogeny refers to the mechanism by which the mountains are formed in the continent. The modern geology has enabled us to understand the formation of various mountains in the world. Typically, the mountains are formed as a result of volcanism or tectonic forces. Different mountains are formed in different manners, and there three ways that result in the formation of mountains. The three ways result in different types of mountains that include fold, volcanic, and block mountains. The formation of the three types of mountains results from plate tectonics where isotactic uplift, compressional forces, and intrusion of igneous matter makes the rock of the surface to move upward, making the landform higher when compared to the surrounding features (Elliot, 2013). The paper, therefore, will look at how the different mountains are formed. The paper will look at the formation of volcanic, block, and Fold Mountains in detail.

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Volcanic Mountains

The formation of these type of mountains is as a result of the tectonic plates pushing above or beneath each other in which the magma get forced to the surface of the earth. Upon reaching the surface of the earth, the magma usually forms volcanic mountains, for instance, a stratovolcano or shield volcano. Mt Fuji in Japan and Mt Etna in Sicily are good examples of volcanic mountains. In some cases, the rising magma gets solidified under the surface of the earth and build Dome Mountains in which the materials are pushed up, resulting from the force built beneath it.

Fold Mountains

This type of mountain is formed when the tectonic plates collide. Collision usually occurs at a convergent plate boundary, which results in the over thickening of the crush. The process results in floating of the less dense crush on the denser one with the materials getting forces upwards, forming plateaus, hills, or mountains while a significant volume of materials being forced beneath the mantle. Some of the examples of Fold Mountains include Akwapim- Toro Range, which is found in Ghana and the Appalachians Mountains in the Eastern part of the United States.

Block Mountains

The Block Mountains results from the faults in the crust. The block mountains are usually formed when the tectonic plates start moving away from each other, resulting in cracks on the earth's surface. When the parallel faults or cracks occur, the block of land that exists between them could be raised, leading the creation of block mountains. Moreover, the block mountains may also be formed when the earth's crust sinks on both sides of parallel faults. It is, therefore, true that the block mountains may be found between rift valleys. The upward block of the block mountain is called the horst, while the land that sinks is referred to as the graben. Some of the good examples of the block mountains are Vosges of Rhineland and East African rift valleys.

Conclusion

In summary, the formations of mountains are a result of tectonic forces that are enacted on the earth's crush. The directions of such tectonic forces determine the kinds of mountains to be formed. Therefore, different types of mountains are not formed in the same way because of the difference in the direction tectonic forces that act on the earth's crush.

Reference

Elliot, D. H. (2013). The geological and tectonic evolution of the Transantarctic Mountains: a review. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 381(1), 7-35.