Mountain Building and Geologic Time

How does the Theory of Plate Tectonics explain mountain building?

explains mountain building through the movement and interaction of tectonic plates. When plates converge, they can cause the Earth's crust to fold and uplift, forming mountain ranges.

What type of plate boundary is responsible for most continental mountains?

convergent plate boundaries are responsible for most continental mountains, where two tectonic plates collide and push the crust upward.

What type of process is responsible for the formation of the Himalayan mountains?

formed by the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, a process known as continental collision.

What type of process is responsible for the formation of the Appalachian mountains?

formed primarily by a combination of tectonic plate collisions and erosion over millions of years.

What is Exotic Terrane?

a fragment of crust that has a different geological history than the surrounding area, often formed in a different location and later accreted to a continent.

How does Exotic Terrane form?

through processes such as subduction, where oceanic plates are pushed beneath continental plates, or through the collision of landmasses that carry distinct geological features.

What is the difference between relative age and absolute age?

Relative age refers to the age of an object or event in comparison to others, while absolute age provides a specific numerical age, often determined through radiometric dating.

How can relative age be determined?

using principles such as the Law of Superposition, where older layers of rock are found below younger layers, and through the use of index fossils.

How can absolute age be determined?

using radiometric dating techniques, which measure the decay of radioactive isotopes in rocks and fossils.

What age is considered young for a mountain range?

considered young if it is less than 10 million years old, as younger ranges are still undergoing significant geological activity.

What is the Geologic Time Scale?

a system used to describe the timing and relationships of events in Earth's history, divided into eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages.

What length of time does the Geologic Time Scale cover?

covers approximately 4.6 billion years, from the formation of the Earth to the present.