Mountains
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    Mountains are the closest related to geology.  Dramatic erosion happens in mountains and landslides occur and rivers can become more powerful because of their angles. The scientific study of mountains started in the eighteenth century. There are four classifications of mountains which are: Volcanic mountains, Fault-block mountains, Oceanic ridges, and Folded and Complex mountains. The ones that stretched around the Great Wall of China were mostly Fault-block mountains and Folded and Complex mountains.

    In a Fault-block mountain, many faults are located around the mountain. Many of these faults dip downward.  Under the surface the angle can be 40-50 degrees or less.  There are even some detachment faults which are faults that are horizontal in depth.

    Folded and Complex mountains are made up of Alpine Chains which are linear mountain belts.  No two Alpine Chains are alike.  Folded and Complex mountains usually stretch for 1000's of miles.  As you get farther from the core, the degree of folding and the amount of faults decrease.

This Page was last edited on Thursday, July 27, 2000 .

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