Fault-Block Mountains
It's not my fault!
Types of Mountains
There are about three types of ways to form a Mountain, they are:
- Volcanic Mountains
- Fold Mountains
- Fault-Block Mountains (or just Block Mountains).
Now, let's talk about each one.
What's a Volcanic Mountain?
Just like the name suggests, these mountains were formed by Volcanoes. Volcanic Mountains are formed when magma from deep within the earth erupts and piles up on the surface. When the ash and lava cools piling up, layer after layer, and building a cone of rock.
An example of how they're made is show below.
Examples
Mount Osorno
Mount Osorno, Chile
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji, Japan
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What's a Fold Mountain?
Fold mountains are the easiest to explain, since the process is fairly simple. Fold mountains are formed when two plates collide head on, and their edges crumble. Similar to paper folds when you push paper together.
There's a visual below to help you get the idea.
Examples
Appalachians
The Appalachians, North America
Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps, Switerland
Zagros Mountians
Zagros Mountains, Asia
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What's a Block Mountain?
A Block Mountain is a mountain that has formed because a fault, or crack in the Earth's Crust, force blocks of rock up and down. Instead of folding over, like a fold mountain, it breaks into blocks. When the rocks are moving up and down as they're pulling apart, rocks stack up together. These mountains usually have a steep front side, and a sloping back side.
An example of how they're made it shown above.
Examples
Sierra Nevada
These are the Sierra Nevada Mountains, they're Block Mountains.
Wasatcha Mountains
This mountain is part of the Wasatcha Range that runs through the Wasatcha Fault.
Teton Range
This is the Teton Range, a part of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming.