How do plate tectonics form mountains?

Mountain formation, or orogenesis, occurs through large-scale movements of Earth's crust driven by plate tectonics. Processes such as folding, faulting, volcanic activity, igneous intrusion, and metamorphism combine to build mountains along active tectonic boundaries. Historically, geosyncline theory explained these structures until plate tectonics replaced it in the 1960s.

What we know

• Mountain formation occurs due to a variety of geological processes associated with large-scale movements of tectonic plates. [2]
• Folding, faulting, volcanic activity, igneous intrusion, and metamorphism can all be parts of the orogenic process of mountain building. [2]
• Geosyncline theory was used to explain much mountain-building from the late 18th century until it was replaced by plate tectonics in the 1960s. [2]
• The ongoing subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate is largely responsible for the Andean orogeny. [4]

Still open

• The relative importance and interaction of proposed factors driving plate motion, such as active convection, upwelling inside the mantle, and tidal drag of the Moon, remain subjects of debate.

Where to go next

• whenWhat caused the shift from geosyncline theory to plate tectonics?
• a case in pointHow does the Nazca plate shape the Andes?
• how it workedWhat happens during subduction at convergent boundaries?
• what followedHow do earthquakes relate to tectonic faults?
• the bigger pictureWhat are the major components of Earth's lithosphere?
• an unexpected connectionHow does Jupiter's moon Europa relate to Earth's mountain building?Although Earth is the only planet currently known to have active plate tectonics, Jupiter's moon Europa shows signs of ice crustal plates moving and interacting in a similar fashion.

Sources

• [1]mountain formation (Wikidata Q6925465) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Mountain formation · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Farallon plate · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Nazca plate · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Plate tectonics · CC BY-SA 4.0