Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building — Faults, Folds, and the Rise of Mountain Belts Explained | Chapter 11 from Earth: Portrait of a Planet
Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building — Faults, Folds, and the Rise of Mountain Belts Explained | Chapter 11 from Earth: Portrait of a Planet How do mountains rise and ancient rocks deform deep within the crust? Chapter 11 of Earth: Portrait of a Planet by Stephen Marshak investigates the powerful tectonic forces that create mountain ranges, fault zones, and folded rock layers. For a concise podcast summary, watch the chapter video on YouTube , or read below for a comprehensive educational breakdown. The Stresses That Shape the Crust Mountain building, or orogeny, begins with tectonic stresses: Compression: Squeezes rocks, shortening and thickening the crust. Tension: Stretches rocks, leading to crustal thinning and rift valleys. Shear: Slides rocks past one another along faults. How rocks respond—brittle or plastic deformation—depends on temperature, pressure, and rock type. Brittle vs Plastic Deformation and Geological Structures Brittle Deformation...