Orogeny

Orogeny is the deformation and uplift of Earth’s crust that builds mountain belts, commonly through tectonic plate convergence.

Continental collision: The convergence of two continental lithospheres after intervening oceanic crust is consumed. Collision thickens and folds crust, as in the formation of the Himalaya.
Himalayas: A mountain range in Asia formed mainly by collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The Himalayas exemplify ongoing continental collision and crustal shortening.
Plate tectonics: The theory that Earth’s lithosphere is divided into moving plates whose interactions shape the surface. Plate motions supply the forces behind most major mountain-building episodes.
Orogenic collapse: The gravitational spreading or extension of an overthickened mountain belt. A belt built by compression can later thin and spread under its own weight.
Subduction: The descent of one tectonic plate beneath another into the mantle. Subduction drives volcanic mountain belts and can precede continental collision.
Andes: A mountain range along western South America formed chiefly above a subduction zone. The Andes illustrate mountain building above a long-lived oceanic subduction margin.
Lithosphere: Earth’s rigid outer shell, consisting of the crust and the uppermost mantle. Orogeny deforms this outer shell, especially its continental portions.
Exhumation: The movement of rocks from depth toward Earth’s surface by uplift and erosion. Exhumation exposes deep rocks that were buried during mountain building.
Crustal thickening: An increase in crustal thickness caused by shortening, stacking, or addition of rock. Thickened crust can rise isostatically to form high mountain plateaus.
Alps: A European mountain range formed through convergence and collision involving the African and Eurasian plates. The Alps preserve structures from closure of the Tethys Ocean and continental collision.

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