Questions tagged [orogeny]
concerning processes leading to large-scale deformation of the Earth's surface, particularly mountain-building events
14
questions
2
votes
0answers
52 views
Why the difference between Italian coastlines and mountain ranges?
Italy’s relatively straight, parallel coastlines in the main part of the “boot” seem surprising given how the Apennines snake through it, from one side to the other and back. Don’t coastlines usually ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Origin of Andaman and Nicobar islands
Are Andaman and Nicobar islands in Indian ocean a continuation of Alpide-Himalayan orogeny or are they volcanic in origin?
5
votes
4answers
597 views
Are the cores of every mountain range igneous?
Every volcano is a mountain, but not every mountain is a volcano. Still, it strikes me that--at least for the mountain ranges I can think of in this moment--they all seem to have igneous cores. Is ...
4
votes
1answer
190 views
Are the Olympic Mountains (in Washington state) geologically unique?
So it is my understanding the Washington's Olympic Mountains are basaltic mountains. The reason is that they formed from the upthrust of Ocean crust rather than continental crust as the Farallon plate ...
9
votes
4answers
4k views
Do divergent tectonic plates destroy mountains?
Tectonic plates meeting (convergent plates) form mountains. But if those plates change direction (which I am just assuming they can over time, I have no idea if it's true) and start pulling apart (...
5
votes
1answer
315 views
How are small mountains created?
I understand that large mountain ranges like the Rockies are created by the tectonic plates moving. I live in Arizona and there are a lot of mountains here but from what I understand, there are no ...
1
vote
0answers
287 views
Largest mountain range
The major mountain chains of Earth are found near:
Convergent (subduction) and convergent (collisional) boundaries or transform boundaries?
it should be both subduction and collisional right?
4
votes
2answers
200 views
Relative dating of granite pluton
In selecting a sample for age-dating of a granite pluton, which site is a better site to collect a sample from, the centre, top or side? Why was this site a better choice? Which dating method would ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
What is the value of calculating the elevation of mountains in the past? (paleoelevation)
I would like to know if knowing the history(elevation, temperature, etc) of montains has any application, different from killing curiosity of scientist.
17
votes
3answers
11k views
Is there a reason most mountain ranges seem to run parallel to coastlines?
Eyeballing a map of the world, it seems that most mountain ranges that don't occur along continental fault lines run parallel to coastlines. Is there a reason for this?
7
votes
1answer
304 views
Alpine schistosity
I often find the term Alpine schistosity (schistosité alpine in French, scistosità alpina in Italian) in texts about Alpine geology. Chronologically ordered phases of Alpine schistosity producing ...
12
votes
1answer
380 views
What is the current theory about the formation of Tibet?
Although I basically understand, that how the Himalayas formed, it has always confused me how did the vast high Tibetian Plateau came into existence behind it? And what would be its future, is it ...
8
votes
1answer
5k views
Correlating the Caledonian and Appalachian Orogenies
The Caledonian mountains and Appalachian mountains are recognised to be the roots of the same Palaeozoic orogenic belt. This has since been split in two with the opening of the Atlantic.
On the ...
15
votes
3answers
219 views
What supports the Rockies?
What supports the Rocky Mountains in North America? Or put another way, Why are they there? and Why are they still there?
It might be tempting to think of compression, especially in an east-west ...