Block Mountains are formed as the result of damage caused by the tensile and compressive forces caused by endogenous forces from the Earth’s interior, also known as fault-block mountains. These mountains represent an upright portion of the land between two faults or on either side of a valley or canyon gap.
- Block mountains are created because of faulting on a large scale (when large areas or blocks of earth are broken and displaced vertically or horizontally).
- The uplifted blocks are termed as horsts, and the lowered blocks are called graben.
- The Great African Rift Valley (valley floor is graben), The Rhine Valley (graben) and the Vosges mountain (horst) in Europe are examples.
- Block mountains are also called fault-block mountains since they are formed due to faulting as a result of tensile and compressive forces.
Geology of Block Mountains
- The Block mountain which is also known as fault-block mountain, are get into the form when large blocks of the Earth’s crust are uplifted and tilted along fault lines.
- This creates steep slopes on one side of the block and gentler slopes on the other side.
- The geology of these mountain is characterized by a complex interplay of tectonic forces and erosion.
- In the start of the making of block mountain, tensional forces in the Earth’s crust cause the crust to break along a breaking line or fault line.
- The resulting blocks of crust are then pushed up or down, depending on the direction of the forces involved. Over time, erosion wears away the softer rock on the gentler slopes, while the harder rock on the steep slopes is exposed and eroded more slowly.
As these mountain rises, it may also be subject to further tectonic activity, such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. These events can cause other deformation and erosion, shaping the mountain and creating new features such as canyons, cliffs, and valleys.
Read Also: Characteristics Of Fold Mountains
