Chapter 17 Vocabulary From Essentials Of Geology

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accretionary wedge

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A large mass of sediment that accumulates in subduction zones. Sediment is scraped from the subduction oceanic plate and accreted to the overriding crustal block

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active continental margin

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Usually narrow and consisting of highly deformed sediments. They occur where oceanic lithosphere is being subducted beneath the margin of a continent

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anticline

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A fold in sedimentary strata that resembles an arch

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basin

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A circular downfolded structure

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brittle failure (brittle deformation)

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Deformation that involves the fracturing of rock. Associated with rocks near the surface

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deformation

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General term for the processes of folding, faulting, shearing, compression, or extension of rocks as the result of various natural forces

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dip-slip fault

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A fault in which the movement is parallel to the dip of the fault

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dome

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A roughly circular upfolded structure

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ductile deformation

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A type of solid-state flow that produces a change in the size and shape of a rock body without fracturing. Occurs at depths where temperatures and confining pressures are high

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fault

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A break in a rock mass along which movement has occurred

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fault-block mountains

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A mountain formed by the displacement of rock along a fault

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fault scarp

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A cliff created by movement along a fault. It represents the exposed surface of the fault prior to modification by weathering and erosion

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fold

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A bent layer or series of layers that were originally horizontal and subsequently deformed

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graben

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A valley formed by the downward displacement of a fault-bounded block

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gravitational collapse

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The gradual subsidence of mountains caused by lateral spreading of weak material located deep within these structures

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horst

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An elongated, uplifted block of crust bounded by faults

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isostasy

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The concept that Earth's crust is floating in gravitational balance upon the material of the mantle

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isostatic adjustment

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The process of establishing a new level of gravitational equilibrium

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joint

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A fracture in rock along which there has been no movement

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monocline

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A one-limbed flexure in strata. the strata are usually flat lying or very gently dipping on both sides of this formation

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normal fault

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A fault in which the rock above the fault plane has moved down relative to the rock below.

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orogenesis

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The processes that collectively result in the formation of mountains

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passive continental margin

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A margin that consists of a continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise. They are not associated with plate boundaries and therefore experience little volcanism and few earthquakes

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reverse fault

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A fault in which the material above the fault plane moves up in relation to the material below

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strike-slip fault

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A fault along which the movement is horizontal

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syncline

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A linear downfold in sedimentary strata; the opposite of anticline

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terrane

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A crustal block bounded by faults whose geologic history is distinct from the histories of adjoining crustal blocks

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thrust fault

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A low-angle reverse fault

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transform fault

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A major strike-slip fault that cuts through the lithosphere and accommodates motion between two plates.

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Cascades

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What is an example of a volcanic mountain range?

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Tetons of Wyoming

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What is an example of a fault-block mountain range?

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Himalayas,Alps,Appalacians

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What are three examples of complex mountains?

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Folds, Faults, Metamorphism, and volcanism

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What features often are included in complex mountains? (4)

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continental margins due to plate convergence

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Where do complex mountains form and why do they form?

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Orogenic Belts

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What is another name for complex mountains?

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alutian islands and Japan

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What are two examples of island arcs formed by oceanic-oceanic plate subduction?

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Andes

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What is an example of volcanic arcs formed by oceanic-continental plate subduction?

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Himalayas

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What is an example of a continent-continent plate collision?

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collision between India and Asia

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What is an example of a suture zone?

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Western North America

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Give an example of an accreted (exotic) terrane?