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Types of Mountains
Objectives:
1. Classify mountains by their most prominent feature.
2. Compare and contrast folded mountains, volcanic mountains, and fault-block mountains.
Key Terms
folded mountain volcanic mountain fault-block mountain
Notes: (11-3)
Mountains throughout the world have formed as a result of pressures (compression, tension, & shear) deep within the lithosphere. The types of pressures present have a great impact on the physical characteristics of the mountain ranges. Mountains are classified into three main categories based on these physical characteristics.
Folded mountains
Folded mountains are the product of two inter continental (continent-continent) plate collisions.
 | Ocean plate between the two continents disappears |
| Subduction ceases due to near equal density |
| Mountains are formed as the land is compressed and folded upward |
| Found in mountain belts |
| ex: Appalachians, Himalayas, Rocky Mountains, Alps |
(www.creationscience.com/.../images/ HydroplateOverview24.jpg)
Dome Mountains
Dome mountains are rounded isolated structures that are usually not associated with mountain belts as they occur in generally flat regions. They can be classified into two distinct categories: Plutonic & Tectonic
Plutonic Domes
| Formed from an igneous intrusion |
| Lacoliths and batholiths both form igneous dome mountains |
| ex: Yosemite, Colorado plateau mountains |
(Leilani Ahsing - 2003)
Tectonic Domes
| Dome mountains resulting from uplifting of tectonic plates |
| No plate boundaries are directly involved in the formation |
| ex: Adirondack Mountains (NY), Black Hills (SD) |
Fault-Block Mountains
Fault block mountains are formed as a result of a combination of tension and uplift forces. The stretching and cracking of the crust gives the mountains their appearance and name.
| ex: Sierra Nevada (CA) |
(nasa.utep.edu/chih/theland/ landscape/frankmts6.jpg)
Horst & Grabens
Horsts and grabens are large blocks of land that have either been uplifted or dropped due to direct plate interaction.
| Horst - section of land lifted up near a divergent plate |
| Graben - section of dropped land near a divergent plate |
(geography.sierra.cc.ca.us/ .../graben_horst.jpg)