BGYCT-131

PHYSICAL AND
Indira Gandhi National
Open University STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
School of Sciences

Block

4
MOUNTAIN BUILDING AND PLATE TECTONICS
UNIT 14
Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes 7

UNIT 15
Theories of Mountain Building 25

UNIT 16
Plate Tectonics Theory 42
Course Design Committee
Prof. Vijayshri Prof. J. P. Shrivastava Prof. (Mrs.) Madhumita Das
Former Director Centre of Advanced Study in Geology Department of Geology
School of Sciences University of Delhi, Delhi Utkal University
IGNOU, New Delhi
Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
Prof. Deepak C. Srivasava
Prof. V. K. Verma (Retd.) Department of Earth Sciences Prof. K. R. Hari
Department of Geology Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee School of Studies in Geology and
University of Delhi Roorkee, Uttrakhand Water Resource Management
Delhi
Prof. H. B. Srivastava Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University
Prof. Pramendra Dev (Retd.) Centre of Advanced Study in Geology Raipur, Chhattisgarh
School of Studies in Earth Sciences Banaras Hindu University
Vikram University Varanasi, UP Dr. K. Anbarasu
Ujjain, MP Department of Geology
Prof. M. A. Malik
Prof. P. Madhusudhana Reddy (Retd.) National College
Department of Geology
Department of Geology University of Jammu Tiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University Jammu, J & K
Hyderabad Faculty of Geology Discipline
Prof. S. J. Sangode School of Sciences, IGNOU
Prof. L. S. Chamyal Department of Geology Dr. Meenal Mishra
Department of Geology Savitribai Phule Pune University
M.S. University of Baroda Pune, Maharashtra Dr. Benidhar Deshmukh
Vadodara, Gujarat Dr. Kakoli Gogoi
Prof. Arun Kumar
Dr. M. Prashanth
Late Prof. G. Vallinayagam Department of Earth Sciences
Department of Geology Manipur University Dr. Omkar Verma
Kurukshetra University Imphal, Manipur
Kurukshetra, Haryana

Block Preparation Team

Course Contributors
Prof. Vaibhava Srivastava (Units 15 and 16) Dr. M. Prashanth (Unit 14)
Centre of Advanced Study in Geology School of Sciences
Banaras Hindu University IGNOU, New Delhi
Varanasi, U P
Content Editor Language Editor
Prof. V. K. Verma (Retd.) Prof. S. K. Shah (Retd.)
Department of Geology Department of Geology
University of Delhi, Delhi University of Jammu, Jammu
Transformation: Dr. Benidhar Deshmukh
Course Coordinators: Dr. Meenal Mishra and Dr. Benidhar Deshmukh

Audio Visual Materials

Dr. Amitosh Dubey Dr. Meenal Mishra and Dr. Benidhar Deshmukh
Producer, EMPC, IGNOU Content Coordinators

Print Production
Sh. Sunil Kumar
Assistant Registrar (P), School of Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi

Acknowledgement: Dr. Kakoli Gogoi for designing cover page and Mrs. Savita Sharma for assistance in word
processing and graphical work.
August, 2019
© Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2019
ISBN : 978-93-89668-14-8
Disclaimer: Any material adapted from web-based resources in this block are being used only for educational
purposes and not for commercial purposes and their copyrights rest with the original authors.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means,
without permission in writing from the copyright holder.
Further information on the Indira Gandhi National Open University courses may be obtained from the University’s
office at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110 068 or the official website of IGNOU at www.ignou.ac.in.
Printed and published on behalf of Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi by Director, SOS, IGNOU.
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BGYCT-131: PHYSICAL AND STRUCTURAL
GEOLOGY
Block 1 General Geology
Unit 1 Introduction to Geology
Unit 2 Earth and Solar System
Unit 3 Structure and Composition of the Earth
Unit 4 Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Block 2 Earth Surface Processes

Unit 5 Rock Weathering
Unit 6 Geological Work of Rivers
Unit 7 Geological Work of Wind and Underground Water
Unit 8 Geological Work of Glaciers and Oceans

Block 3 Structural Geology

Unit 9 Introduction to Structural Geology
Unit 10 Folds
Unit 11 Faults
Unit 12 Joints and Unconformities
Unit 13 Field Geology

Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics

Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
 List of audio / video materials related to
this course
1. Earth System Science and Society -Part 1
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVbjNn0ZHRg

2. Earth System Science and Society- Part 2

Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GMPIOrCdcE

3. Geoinformatics: An Introduction
Link: https://youtu.be/vu7f5aFoox0

4. Applications of Geoinformatics
Link: https://youtu.be/tfSDp2TO-Eg

5. Weathering, its types and Significance

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBYijIPPVgc

6. Soil: Product of Weathering

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-SENU4Abv8

7. Landslides: Its types and causes

Link: https://youtu.be/cI73TU0hjQk

8. Landslides: Mitigation measures

Link: https://www.youtu.be/BcUVeL43x7c

9. Deccan Volcanism-an Inside Story

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a3glcg0oGs

10. Himalaya-an Overview

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK5Cglisa1Y

11. Evolution of Himalaya

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVGZKqrjVZY

Development of audio/video programmes is a continuous process. For recent

materials pertaining to the course you may visit Youtube page of the School of
Sciences, IGNOU.

Alternatively, you can visit eGyankosh website of IGNOU.

Link : http://egyankosh.ac.in/handle/123456789/36575
 BLOCK 4: MOUNTAIN BUILDING AND PLATE TECTONICS
Mountains are the easily recognisable common features of the Earth. They have always been
a source of inspiration to mankind. Man has always strived to overpower the mystic and
mystery of mountains. The magnificent and majestic mountains observed world over are Fold
Mountains, e.g. the Himalaya, Alps, Andes, Rocky Mountains. In fact, it was the inquisitiveness
for the origin of Fold Mountains that gave birth to a dominant idea that the same forces that
folded the rocks also formed the mountains. Over the past two centuries many theories of
mountain building and orogeny have been proposed. The geosynclinal theory gained
popularity, though it had many limitations. Developed from the 1950s through the 1970s, plate
tectonics is the modern version of continental drift, a hypothesis first proposed by Alfred
Wegener. Sea floor spreading hypothesis was very influential in setting the stage for the
emerging plate tectonics theory. Orogeny or the process of mountain building occurs when
two tectonic plates collide – either forcing material upwards to form mountain belts such as
the Himalayas or the Alps or causing one plate to be subducted below the other, resulting in
volcanic mountain chains such as the Andes. Plate tectonics is the subject matter of
discussion in Earth sciences that attracts a good deal of interest and is very often featured in
popular science programmes on TV and radio. This block comprises three units, wherein you
will be acquainted to the basic concepts of mountain building, orogeny theories of mountain
building with special emphasis to plate tectonics.

Unit 14 introduces the fundamentals of mountains, their importance and mountain building.
This unit elaborates on the classification based on their location, age of orogeny and mode of
origin. In addition, the unit also discusses evidences of orogenic processes.
Unit 15 deals with the theory of continental drift, its supporting evidences and historical
development. This unit also elaborates on the forces responsible for drifting of continents and
explains it with supporting evidences in favour of sea floor spreading. This unit also
summarises historical perspectives on the theories related to mountain building.
In Unit 16, we will learn about the principles of plate tectonics and types of lithospheric plates
and plate boundaries. We will identify and discuss the driving forces for plate motion. Finally,
this would help us to integrate plate tectonics with continental drift, sea floor spreading and
mountain building. We will also try to learn the evolution of Himalaya in the light of plate
tectonics theory.

Expected Learning Outcomes

After studying this block, you should be able to:
• provide elementary idea of mountain building and classify mountains;
• discuss the concept and evidence of orogenic processes.
• enumerate the theory and evidences of continental drift;
• explain the hypothesis and evidences for sea floor spreading;
• summarise historical perspectives on the theories of mountain building;
• elaborate the principles of plate tectonics;
• illustrate types of lithospheric plates, plate boundary and plate margin;
• evaluate the causes or driving forces for plate motion;
• discuss evolution of Himalaya in the lifht of plate tectonics theory; and
• integrate the theory of plate tectonics with continental drift, sea floor spreading and
mountain building.
We hope that after studying this block you will acquire basic knowledge of mountain building
processes, orogeny, continental drift, seafloor spreading and plate tectonics.
Wishing you success in this endeavour!!
Unit 14

14
Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
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UNIT

MOUNTAIN BUILDING AND

OROGENIC PROCESSES
Structure
14.1 Introduction 14.4 Evidences of Orogenic
Process
Expected Learning Outcomes
14.5 Activity
14.2 Classification of Mountains
On the Basis of Location 14.6 Summary
On the Basis of Period of Origin
14.7 Terminal Questions
On the Basis of Mode of Origin
14.8 References
14.3 Mountain Building
14.9 Further/Suggested Readings
Geosynclinal Theory
Plate Tectonics Theory 14.10 Answers

14.1 INTRODUCTION
While witnessing the beauty of rivers, seas, oceans, hills and mountains, we may often think
that these landforms are there since the birth of our planet Earth. The frequent occurrences
of disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes force us to think that Earth was not the same
as it is now. Let us recognise that the Earth is undergoing constant changes and is being
remodelled by various geological processes, which can be exogenic and/or endogenic.
The changes-small or large, continuous or sporadic, or gradual or catastrophic are one of
the most exciting things in geology because in many cases they are observable. Some of
these changes may take thousands or millions of years like mountain building processes. In
this unit, we will introduce the various processes of mountain building.

Expected Learning Outcomes

After studying this unit, you should be able to:

❖ classify mountains;

❖ list forms of mountains and their importance;

❖ describe mountain building processes; and

❖ discuss evidences of orogenic processes.

7
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14.2 CLASSIFICATION OF MOUNTAINS
We all have seen mountains or hills. Some of us might be having our houses
in mountainous terrain. Mountain is a large terrain feature that rises abruptly
from the surrounding levels. When there is a group of closely spaced
mountains or parallel ridges we call it a mountain range. You might be aware
that the mountain is often the source of major river systems influencing the
regional and global climatic conditions of the world. Let us consider some
examples of Indian rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, Brahmaputra, Kaveri
(Cauvery), Mahanadi, etc. which have their origin in hills and mountains. The
Himalaya for example forms a barrier and protect the Indian subcontinent
from cold winds originating from Central Asia. They even block the movement
of South West Monsoon that ascends and cause rainfall on the southern
slopes of the Himalaya. Mountains are embodiment of incredible beauty and
tranquillity that make them important tourist destinations. They are the
storehouse of natural resources and also provide suitable sites for generation
of hydro-electricity. The fertile plains formed in the lower valleys are the result
of the sediments brought from the flowing rivers that take birth in the high
altitude mountain regions.
Let us address the following questions while studying the mountains:
geological structures associated with mountains
age and origin of rocks of the mountains
the processes involved in the mountain building activity.
Out of all the questions highlighted above, the last one is more critical to
understand. Geologists are trying to understand the formation of mountains.
Mountains are the second order relief features on the Earth’s surface. They
rise as a single prominent feature or in a group as a chain. They cover around
one-fifth of the land surface which are distinct centres of biodiversity. Usually,
they have steep slopes and rounded to sharp peaks. Let us differentiate a
mountain from a hill. It is important to note that elevation and areal extent of
the spread of higher relief over an area is used to distinguish them. Generally,
if the height of a landmass exceeds 600 meters, it is called a mountain and if
it is less than 600 meters and localised, it is termed hill.
Let us learn different related terms used for the different forms of mountains
present on the Earth surface.
Mountain range exists in a linear system of mountains and hills having
several ridges, peaks, summits and valleys. All the hills and mountains
are of same age; however, there may be some physical and structural
variations in each hill and mountain of the range, e.g. Karakoram Range
or Ladakh Range.
Mountain chain is represented by chain of parallel, long and narrow
mountains of different age, occasionally separated by a plateau.
Mountain system consists of mountain ranges of same age but they are
separated by valleys.
8
Mountain group comprises assemblage of several unsystematic
patterns of different mountain systems.
Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
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Cordillera is represented by several mountain ranges, mountain chains,
systems and groups. It is not only characterised with the presence of
mountains but also other features such as intervening valleys, plateaus,
intermontane basins, etc. The Western Cordillera of USA is a classical
example.

In the following sections we will classify mountains based on their location,

age of orogeny and mode of origin.

14.2.1 On the Basis of Location

On the basis of location we can classify mountains in the following two types:

Continental mountains: They are found on the continental regions.

Examples of continental mountains are the Himalaya, Aravalli, Satpura,
Western and Eastern Ghats of India; Kunlun, Tien Shan, Altai mountains
of Asia; Rockies, Appalachians of North America; Alpine mountain chains
of Europe; the Urals of Russia.

Oceanic mountains: They are found on continental shelves, ocean

floors and mid oceanic ridge systems. Mid Atlantic Ridge is a good
example. You will read more examples of the oceanic mountains in Unit
16 Concepts of Plate Tectonics of this course.

14.2.2 On the Basis of Period of Origin

Mountains can also be classified based on the geological period of origin. Let
us discuss them.

Precambrian mountains: Some of the mountains were formed during

Precambrian between 3800 and 550 million years ago. These mountains
have been subjected to upheaval, denudation and metamorphism. The
still noticeable remnants appear as ‘residual mountains’. Some of the
examples are Anamalai and Nilgiri mountains in India and Laurentian
mountains in Canada.

Caledonian mountains: They came into existence between

approximately 430 and 380 million years ago, e.g. Aravallis and Mahadeo
of India, Appalachians of North America are the consequence of the
Caledonian orogeny.

Hercynian mountains: They came into existence between

approximately 350 and 250 million years ago, e.g. Caucasus mountains
in Europe, Altai, Tien Shan mountains of Asia and Ural Mountains in
Russia are the outcome of Hercynian orogeny.

Tertairy or Alpine mountain system was formed from around 65 million

years ago to present day, e.g. the Rockies in North America, the Alpine
mountains of Europe, the Atlas mountains of north-western Africa and the
Himalaya of the Indian subcontinent were the result of the Alpine
orogeny. They are the loftiest mountains with rugged terrain. In India,
most recently formed mountains are the Himalaya. 9
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14.2.3 On the Basis of Mode of Origin
We are concerned with the classification of mountains based on the mode of
origin as it is geologically important. According to the mode of origin,
mountains are classified into following five types:
l Volcanic mountains
l Erosional mountains
l Fold mountains
l Rift valley and block mountains
l Residual or relict mountains
A) Volcanic Mountains
They are also known as mountains of accumulation, because of the piling
of volcanic material that had deposited around the zone of volcanic
eruption. We know that due to high temperature deep inside the Earth,
rock materials are in the form of molten magma. When the magma is
ejected to the Earth’s surface as volcanic eruption, it erupts as lava, ash,
tuffaceous material and volcanic gases (Fig. 14.1). Volcanic mountains
are formed when the magma from beneath the Earth makes its way to
the surface and forms a cone. Tuff comprises porous rock of volcanic
ash consisting small particles less then 2 mm. The deposited material
around the vent increases in height paving the way for the formation of a
mountain (Fig. 14.2). Some of the classical examples of volcanic
mountains are Deccan volenics in India, Fuji Yama in Japan, Vesuvius in
Italy, and Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in Hawai.
l Watch this video to know more about Deccan Volcanics.
Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?V-1a3glcgoGs

Fig. 14.1: Volcanic ejecta, ash and tuffaceous material in the volcanic mountain.
10 (Photo credit : Dr. Meenal Mishra)
Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
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Volcanic mountains formed under the ocean rise to the sea surface and
appear as oceanic islands. The Aleutian Islands of Alaska is a classical
example.

Crater

Deposited Vent
ash & tuff
layers

3000 m

Fig. 14.2: Deposition of ash and tuff layers around the volcanic vent.

B) Erosional Mountains
They are considered to be the remnants of the final phase in the history of
mountain formation. These mountains are formed when the old
mountains formed by magmatic intrusion(s) get eroded to the present day
elevations by the action of external forces and also due to the isostatic
readjustment. They are also called as Dome Mountains as they are
formed due to upwarping of the exposed surface (Fig. 14.3). Dome
Mountains are originated when a large amount of magma pushes up from
below the Earth’s crust but actually does not reach the surface to erupt;
rather it cools and hardens below the surface and takes shape of a dome
(Fig. 14.4). Thus, domed mountains are also known as Upwarped
Mountains. We can compare the Dome Mountains as blisters on the
Earth’s surface, in view of the fact that the intruded magma causes
upwarping and eventually gets exposed as the overlying material is
eroded. They are also known as Erosional Mountains. Since the dome

Fig. 14.3: Diagram showing the formation of a dome mountain. 11

Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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is higher than its surroundings, erosion works from the top creating a
circular mountain range. Classical examples of erosional or dome or
upwarped mountains are Mount Abu in Rajasthan (India) and Cincinati
Dome in USA.

Fig. 14.4: A view of a dome mountain from the Pir Panjal Range, Kashmir.
(Photo credit: Sainandini Mishra)

C) Fold Mountains

They are the most common type of mountains found on the Earth
surface covering a vast area and stretching thousands of kilometres as
shown in Fig. 14.5. Fold Mountains mainly consist of uplifted folded
sedimentary rocks. Horizontal compressional forces, acting on the
huge pile of deposited sedimentary rocks in the oceanic basin for
millions of years, causes folding of rocks (Fig. 14.6). As the time
passes, due to the Earth movements the rocks are uplifted to a
considerable height and results in the formations of Fold Mountains.
The collision of continental plates cause uplifting and folding of crust
and result in the formation of mountains. Since the mountains are
folded in nature, they are also known as diastrophic mountains. The
Himalayas of India as shown in Fig. 14.7a and Alps in Europe (Fig.
14.7b) are the good examples of Fold Mountains. Let us list some of
the common features of fold mountains:

They occur in linear belt with roughly parallel ridges.

12
Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
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They are structurally folded and are made up of thick sedimentary
successions which are mostly deposited in the shallow marine
environment.

Tectonic activity that leads to faulting, thrusting and igneous activity

combined with metamorphism can be seen in fold mountains.

Fig. 14.5: Map showing distribution of the Fold Mountains. (map not to scale)
(Source: www.mapofimages.com/world-mountain-maps)

Fig. 14.6: Sketch of Fold Mountains.

13
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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Fig. 14.7a: A panoramic view of the Himalaya, near Nainital, Uttarakhand - a classical
example of fold mountains. (Photo credit: Ishani Srivastava)

Fig. 14.7b: Panoramic view of Alps, Switzerland- an example of fold mountains.

(Photo credit: Dr. S.D. Shukla)

Fold Mountains can be classified on the basis of their ages:

i) Young Fold Mountains: They are the highest and most rugged
mountains. They have been formed between a time period of 25 to 10
million years ago. They are characterised by a complex folding and
faulting system. Erosion and weathering on these mountains are
caused by running water, ice, winds, etc. They contain the world’s
highest mountain peak such as Mt. Everest (8848 m) of the Himalaya.
The Alps and Andes are also some of the examples of the young fold
mountains.
ii) Old Fold Mountains: These are very ancient mountains of more than
200 millions years old. Many of them exist as relict mountains as they
were subjected to denudation and weathering. The presence of irregular
form of peaks, monadnocks, plateaus and sculptured domes are some
14 of the characteristic features of these mountains. The Appalachians in
Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
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North America and Urals in Russia are the good examples of old fold
mountains.
D) Rift Valley and Block Mountains
Mountains associated with the rift valley system are called rift valley or
fault-block or block mountains. Before knowing about these mountains,
let us learn what is a rift valley? Rift valley is a linear shaped, narrow
depression or fault on the Earth’s surface, developed by the extensional
forces of the Earth’s crust. The uplifted blocks of the rift valley are called
Block Mountains or horsts and the intervening dropped blocks are
called graben as shown in Fig. 14.8. When a piece of a land engulfed
between two almost parallel faults is raised to certain height in
comparison to its surrounding area, results in a Block Mountain. Thus,
Block Mountains (or Fault-block mountains) are formed when faults or
cracks in the Earth’s crust force the intervening blocks upwards or
downwards. Fault-block Mountains usually have a steep front side and a
sloping back side. The classical example is Narmada rift valley, Central
Asia (Fig. 14.9).
E) Residual or Relict Mountains
They are the products of weathering and erosion. The different agents
of erosion like winds, glaciers, river, and oceans active on the Earth
surface, erode the old mountains and plateaus at some or other time by
leveling to a certain height and results in the formation of Residual or
Relict Mountains.
They are formed by differential erosion because of differing erodability of
rocks in the region. The weathering and erosion is a continuous
process, as such it takes thousands of years to erode the soft rocks
into sand and the left over hard rocks remain standing in a considerably
reduced height. Certain resistant areas called monadnock may
withstand the lowering by geological agents. Certain plateaus such as
Deccan Plateau in Peninsular India are dissected by the flowing rivers,
eroding and leveling them more than that of the relict or residual
mountains. Few examples of residual mountains include the Anamalai,
the Nilgiris, the Aravallis and the Rajmahal traps in India.
We have read about different terms associated with mountains and their
classifications. In the next section, we shall discuss about mountain building
processes.
Before proceeding further, let us have short break to check your progress.

SAQ 1
a) Define a mountain and write its importance.
b) What are the characteristics of a cordillera?
c) Classify the mountains based on this origin.
d) List some examples of Fold Mountains. 15
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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Fig. 14.8: Diagram showing the formation of horst and graben in a rift valley
as a result of normal faulting.

Fig. 14.9: A view of the river Narmada flowing in a rift valley, Jabalpur,
Madhya Pradesh. (Photo credit: Dr. Nishi Rani)

14.3 MOUNTAIN BUILDING

Mountains are formed by slow but gigantic movements and deformation in the
Earth’s crust. The process of mountain building is generally explained based
on the mode of formation, in view of the fact that Fold Mountains occur as
largest and most complex mountain systems of the world. As noticed by the
Geologists, Fold Mountains are formed due to compression, squeezing, folding
and upliftment of the thick pile of sediments deposited in the ocean basins.
However, the precise mechanism which would have caused them has long
been debated. Although many theories have been advocated to account for
the process, the aspects of mountain building have long puzzled geologists.
The mountain building process is also called the orogenic process.
We know that Mt. Everest is the highest peak on Earth at 8848m above the
mean sea level. The rock at the top of the peak is a marine limestone,
deposited on the sea floor about 450 million years ago! This is an amazing
fact!! You might question ! how did that rock deposited in the ocean basin
16 now found at the highest peak on Earth? Its answer lies in the mountain
Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
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Fig. 14.10: Photograph showing residual or relict mountains from near Pallam,
Tamil Nadu.
building or orogenic processes. There are complex systems involved in the
mountain building process. In early 20th century, much before the plate
tectonics theory advocated geosynclinal theory helped us in
understanding the major mountain building processes. However,
geosynclinal theory has now been replaced by theory of plate tectonics.
Let us study about geosynclinal theory in brief.

14.3.1 Geosynclinal Theory

Geosynclinal theory was proposed by James Hall in 1850s and later
modified by J.D. Dana during 1870s. Geosynclinal theory is now an obsolete
concept, which originally was built on the characteristic features and the
process involved in the formation of Folded Mountains. It talked in relation to
the existence of the synclines as long linear troughs and opined that the
subsidence of crust took place under the weight of the deposited sediments.
Geosyncline is a term still occasionally used for a subsiding linear trough
caused by the accumulation of sedimentary rock strata deposited in a basin.
The deposited sedimentary rock strata with associated volcanism and
plutonism undergo compression, deformation and upliftment to form a
mountain range. It had explained orogeny in following five stages:
a) Geosynclinal stage: When a large linear trough undergoes gradual
subsidence due to the weight of larger amount of deposited sediments,
the geosynclinal stage is developed. Due to isostatic adjustments the
layer below the deposited sediments in the continental shelves becomes
synclinal as shown in Fig. 14.11a.
b) Lithogenesis stage: In this stage, the deposited sediments get
compacted and cemented due to the downward pressure developed by
the weight of larger amounts of sediments deposited and results in the
formation of solid rocks (Fig. 14.11b).
17
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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c) Tectogenesis: In this stage, Earth’s crustal rocks are deformed due to high
presure of deposited sediments, geothemal gradients and tectonic activity
resulting in the formation of geological structures shown in Fig. 14.11c.
d) Orogenesis stage: This stage results in the formation of long linear
mountain chains due to folding, faulting and thrusting developed by the
compressional forces within the sediments of a geosyncline. This is
followed by generation of magma, its upward movement and intrusion in
the overlying sediments. As shown in Fig. 14.11c, the complex mountain
chain finally results in formation of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
which are folded and faulted in nature.
e) Glyptogenesis stage: In the post orogenic phase, the erosion removes the
material from the top and sculptures the surface forms. Consequently, the
batholith spread underneath the Earth is exposed due to the upward isostatic
adjustments developed within the mountain (Fig. 14.11d).

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Fig. 14.11: Stages in geosynclinal theory: a) Geosynclinal; b) Lithogenesis;

c) Tectogenesis and Orogenesis; and d) Glyptogenesis stages.
(Redrawn from Singh, 2012)

Even though the geosynclinal theory could provide basic steps for explaining
the theory of mountain building processes and the underlying cause of
orogenesis, it was unable to explain the reasons for subsidence in the
geosynclines. Why did sediments accumulate relatively undisturbed for
millions of years and suddenly go through a period of deformation? Such
unanswered questions drove geologists to continue to search answers for
mountain building. Plate tectonics theory provides answer to many of the
18 questions pertaining to mountain building.
Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
..........................................................................................................................................................................
We will now go through the concept of plate tectonics in the following
subsection.

14.3.2 Plate Tectonics Theory

According to this, mountains form when large segments of Earth’s lithosphere
called plates are displaced horizontally. Fold Mountains form as the result of
compression when two continental plates collide with each other. This
provides explanation for the processes like folding, faulting, thrusting,
magmatism, metamorphism and upliftment of thick pile of sediments
accumulated along continental margins. We would discuss in detail about
plate tectonics in Unit 16 Concept of Plate Tectonics of this course. Let us now
familiarise ourselves with the evidences of orogenic processes.

14.4 EVIDENCES OF OROGENIC PROCESS

Orogeny relates to mountain building and epeiorogeny is the formation of
continents and oceanic basins. Both the processes involve tectonic
deformation of Earth’s crust. Orogeny is the term which encompasses the
complex tectonics processes in Mountain belts where the outer layers
experience thrusting, folding and faulting, metamorphism and plutonic activity
operate in the deeper and inner layers of the earth. Thus, orogeny, the process
of mountain building, provides a record for the study of geographical,
tectonics, structural event, chronological events occurred in the geological
past.

You have read that after the orogeny has taken place, it takes millions of years
for the mountains to get eroded. The remnants of the earlier mountains may
provide useful clues to unravel the orogenic processes. The characteristic
features helpful in identifying the rock types are metamorphism, volcanism,
magmatic intrusion and sedimentary deposits. The orogeny in the geological
history can be known by studying the petrotectonics assemblage of rocks,
e.g. ophiolites, ophiolitic mélange, stratigraphy and associated geological
structures such as folds and thrust faults.

Ophiolites are pieces of oceanic plate that have been thrusted (obducted)
onto the edge of continental plates. They are an assemblage of mafic to
ultramafic lavas and hypabyssal rocks found in association with sedimentary
rocks like greywackes (hard compact sandstone with high quartz and feldspar
and) radiolanan cherts. Ultramafic rock consist of ailica percentage less than
45 while Mgo s more then 18% to and Feo is high. Radiolarian chertis silica
rich sedimentary rock consisting of microfossils. Ophiolitic mélange is the
term used for dismembered ophiolite displaying block-in-matrix fabric, i.e. big
blocks of rocks (belonging to ophiolitic assemblage) of mappable size lying in
fine grained matrix (Fig. 14.12). Ophiolitic mélange shows lateral stratal
disruption.

Let us discuss the details of rock types which provide us the evidences for the
orogenic processes.
19
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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Igneous rocks: The major types of igneous rocks formed during orogeny are
plutonic and volcanic rocks. The formation of batholith is an indication of past
orogeny. Although predominant plutonic rocks are granite and granodiorite
however, the rocks of mafic and intermediate composition are also present.
Ultramafic rocks constitute an important part of petrotectonic assemblage, i.e.
ophiolite and ophiolitic mélange attractive rocks consist of silica percentage
less than 45 while MgO is more than 18% and FeO is high.

Metamorphic rocks: In general, regional metamorphism is extensively

widespread during orogeny. Nearly all types of metamorphic rocks are formed
throughout the orogenic process but predominant rock types formed in larger
volumes at high temperature conditions are schist and gneiss. The mountains
that are originated on the seaward side during orogeny of large mountain belts
are dominated by high-pressure and low-temperature metamorphic rocks.

Fig. 14.12: Ophiolitic mélange from the Ladakh Himalaya, Shergol with
dismemberd blocks of ultramafics (Um), basalt (B), gabbro (G),
limestone (Lst), radiolarian chert (RC), greywacke (Gw),
metamorphic rocks lying in fine grained matrix (Mat).

Sedimentary rocks: These rocks are formed by uplifting and erosion of

mountains provide a record of orogeny. Due to the process of weathering and
erosion, sediments are deposited within or on the margins of orogenic regions
forming the sedimentary rocks. All types of sedimentary rocks are formed but
most abundant are the varieties of sandstones i.e. greywackes and arkoses. If
greywackes are predominant during orogeny, it indicates the active volcanic
arc during that time. In the later stages of orogeny, if the volcanic arc shifts to
some other place, continuous uplift and erosion take place exposing the
igneous and metamorphic rocks. The sediments eroded from these
mountains will form arkose (a type of sandstones) rich in quartz and feldspar
minerals. The groups of sedimentary rocks that are formed due to the
precipitation of sea water are limestone and chert/ radiolarian chert, which are
also typical of orogenic regions.
Epeiorogeny is the gentle uplift or subsidence of the broad areas of cratonic
20 part of the continents but with little igneous activity, faulting occures,
Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
..........................................................................................................................................................................
metamorphism, or intense deformation. In contrast to orogeny, epierogeny
occurs on the crust in a non-linear fashion covering vast areas. Epeirogenic
regions are characterised by domes, arches, and basins.
Epeirogeny results in the development of disconformities in a regional scale
and the deposits formed from the events of marine regression.
Now we know that the processes associated with orogeny are the horizontal
plate movements and with epierogeny are the vertical plate movements.
Marine regression is a geological process occuring when area of submerged
seafllor are exposed above sea level.
We shall read about theories of mountain building and concept of plate
tectonics in the next two units.
Let us check your progress.

SAQ 2
a) List the different stages in geosynclinal theory.
b) Differentiate between orogeny and epeirogeny.
c) List the sedimentary which are evidences of orogenic processes.

14.5 ACTIVITY
1. Now you are familiar with the Fold Mountains having studied about them
in this unit. Name the mountain ranges marked with numbers from 1-7 on
the map in Fig. 14.13.

Fig. 14.13: Map of world showing major mountain ranges.

Now open the world atlas to check the correct answer.

2. List the mountains cited as examples in this unit. Take a world map and try
to locate them.
21
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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14.6 SUMMARY
Let us summarise what we have learnt in this unit:
Mountains, are the areas of incredible beauty, which are isolated or
interlinked and elevated masses considerably above the average altitude
of their surroundings.
Mountains also form the vital source for major river systems and
influence the regional and global climatic conditions of the world. Apart
from that they are storehouse of natural resources, potential regions for
generation of hydro-electricity, source of water and promote tourist and
hotel industries.
Mountains are represented by numerous forms such as mountain ridge,
mountain range, mountain chain, mountain system, mountain group and
cordillera.
Mountains are classified into volcanic mountains, erosional mountains,
fold/diastrophic mountains, fault-block mountains and residual/relict
mountains based on their mode of origin.
Mountain building process involves complex building mechanism which
can be elucidated by geosynclinal theory. However, geosynclinal theory is
no longer considered as a valid theory because of several drawbacks
and it is now replaced by plate tectonics which have provided
explanations to the mountain building processes.
Geosynclinal theory advocated five stages of mountain building process,
viz., geosynclinal, lithogenesis, tectogenesis, orogenesis, and
glyptogenesis stages.
Orogeny is the process of formation of mountains and epeirogeny is the
process of development of continents and oceans.
Different rock types or petrotectonics assemblage, ophiolitic and
ophiolitic mélange and associated geological structures preserved in the
mountains provide useful clues for unraveling the orogenies in geological
history.

14.7 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. Distinguish between a hill and a mountain? Explain the different forms of
mountains.
2. Explain the types of mountains based on mode of origin with suitable
diagrams and examples.
3. What are geosynclines? Describe the process of mountain formation
from geosynclines.
4. Discuss the rock types associated with orogeny and provide an evidence
of orogenies.

22 5. Write a brief account on how epeirogeny differs from orogeny.

Unit 14 Mountain Building and Orogenic Processes
..........................................................................................................................................................................
14.8 REFERENCES
" Singh, S. (2012) Physical Geography. Prayag Pustak Bhawan, India.

" www.mapofimages.com/world-mountain-maps. (accessed on

20th December, 2015.

14.9 FURTHER/SUGGESTED READINGS

Singh, S. (2012) Physical Geography, Prayag Pustak Bhawan, India.

Lal, D.S. (2011) Physical Geography, Sharda Pustak Bhawan, India.

14.10 ANSWERS
Self-Assessment Questions
1. a) Mountain is a large terrain feature that rises abruptly from
surrounding levels. Mountains are the storehouse of natural
resources, generation of hydro-electricity, source of water, form
fertile plains act as climatic divide and promote tourist and hotel
industries.

b) Cordillera is represented by several mountain groups, ridges,

ranges, mountain chains and mountain systems. It is not only
characterised with the presence of mountains but also other features
such as intervening valleys, plateaus, intermontane basins, etc. It
showcases the orogenic belt at a continental scale, e.g. Western
Cordillera of USA.

c) Volcanic Mountains, Erosional Mountains, Fold Mountains, Rift valley

and Block mountains, Residual/Relict Mountains.

d) Appalachians and Rockies in North America; Andes in South

America; Alps in Europe and Himalayas in India.

2. a) The five stages in geosynclinal theory are: (1) Geosynclinal; (2)

Lithogenesis; (3) Tectogenesis; (4) Orogenesis and (5)
Glyptogenesis stages.

b) Orogeny relates to mountain building whereas epeiorogeny is the

formation of continents and oceanic basins. Epeiorogeny involves
the uplift of broad areas of Earth crust as opposed to orogeny with
the narrow uplift of folded mountains.

c) Greywackes and arkoses (sandstones), shale, limestone and chert.

Terminal Questions
1. Please refer to section 14.2 and elaborate the following points. If the
height of a landmass exceeds 600 meters, it is called mountain and if it is
less than 600 meters, it is termed hill. Different forms of the mountains
23
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
..........................................................................................................................................................................
present on the Earth surface: mountain ridge, mountain range, mountain
chain, mountain system, mountain group, cordillera.

2. Please refer to sub-section 14.2.3 and elaborate the following points, give
suitable diagram and examples. According to mode of origin, the
mountains are classified into five following types: Volcanic mountains,
Erosional Mountains, Fold Mountains, Rift valley and Block Mountains,
Residual/Relict Mountains.

3. Please refer to sub-section 14.3.1 and elaborate with suitable diagram

five stages as listed according to geosynclinal theory: Geosynclinal,
Lithogenesis, Tectogenesis, Orogenesis, and Glyptogenesis stages.
4. Please refer to section 14.4.
5. Please refer to section 14.4.

24
Unit 15
15
Theories of Mountain Building
..........................................................................................................................................................................
UNIT

THEORIES OF
MOUNTAIN BUILDING

Structure
15.1 Introduction 15.4 Theories of Mountain Building
Expected Learning Outcomes Contraction Hypothesis
Expansion Hypothesis
15.2 Continental Drift Hypothesis
Continental Drift Hypothesis
Evidences of Continental Drift
Oscillation and Undation Hypothesis
Forces Responsible for Drifting of
Continents Convection Current Hypothesis

15.3 Hypothesis of Sea Floor Spreading Plate Tectonics Theory

Evidences of Sea Floor Spreading 15.5 Mountain Building Periods

Driving Mechanism of Sea Floor 15.6 Summary
Spreading
15.7 Activity
15.8 Terminal Questions
15.9 References
15.10 Further/Suggested Readings
15.11 Answers

15.1 INTRODUCTION
Whenever we talk of mountains, our mind visualises highlands which are majestic and
magnificent. The very thought of mountains conjures up beautiful images of places like the
Himalaya, Nilgiri, Aravalli, Satpura, Alps, etc, which have always inspired the mankind but at
the same time, our mind questions how these wonderful features formed on Earth! The
process of formation of mountains is commonly known as mountain building. Several
hypotheses have been proposed from time to time to explain the phenomenon. We will
discuss those in latter part of this unit.
You may also wonder to know that many mountains found on the continents are made up of
ocean sediments. This indicates ocean’s role in mountain building. Therefore, we need to
understand the oceans and continents also before discussing the theories of mountain
building. In this unit, we will also discuss the historical and gradual development of the
hypotheses and theories related to drifting of continents, spreading of ocean floor, etc. and
their role in developing modern theory of plate tectonics. 25
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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Expected Learning Outcomes
After reading this unit, you should be able to:
v provide elementary idea of mountain building;
v discuss the continental drift hypothesis and its historical development;
v list the evidences of continental drift;
v enumerate the forces responsible for drifting of continents;
v explain the hypothesis of sea floor spreading;
v list the evidences for sea floor spreading; and
v summarise historical perspectives on the theories related to mountain
building.

15.2 CONTINENTAL DRIFT HYPOTHESIS

We have been introduced to the term mountain building in Unit 14 Mountain
Building and Orogenic Processes. Although many ideas were proposed from
time to time but the concepts of mountain building gained momentum with the
emergence of the concept of continental drift, sea floor spreading and
convection current theories. Let us discuss about them now.
Ever since it was realised that the coastlines on both sides of the Atlantic
Ocean juxtapose together like a jig-saw fit (Fig. 15.1 and 15.2), it gave birth to
the theory of continental drift. This theory was first initiated in 1910 by F.B.
Taylor, an American physicist. It states that the continents are not stationary
but they have moved in the geological past. But pioneer of the theory of
continental drift is Alfred Lothar Wegener, a 32 years old German
meteorologist and geophysicist who first suggested this theory in 1912.
Wegener accredited his new idea in his book ‘Die Entstenung der Kontinente
und Ozeane (The origin of continent and ocean) of which four editions
appeared during 1915 to 1928.

Fig. 15.1: Jigsaw fit of the coastlines of Atlantic Ocean. (Source: http://www.age-
26 of the-sage.org/plate_tectonics/continental_drift.html)
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
..........................................................................................................................................................................

Fig. 15.2: Present day coastlines of Atlantic Ocean. The continents are
depicted by shades of yellow while oceanic areas by shades of
green. You can notice presence of a ridge in the middle part of the
ocean. (Source : www.usgs.gov)

Wegener recognised and termed the assemblage of all continents as a

supercontinent and named it as Pangaea (meaning “all lands” in Greek) as
in Fig. 15.3a and oceanic part as Panthalassa (meaning ‘all oceans’ in
Greek). Pangaea got fragmented into many smaller continents which drifted
across to form present day distribution patterns (Fig. 15.3a and b).
Wegener’s theory was based on evidences from geological data, continuity
of older structures, stratigraphic formations, fossil fauna and flora across the
present continental shorelines. He was basically a meteorologist, who
brought to notice of the world the presence of widespread glaciation in
Permo-Carboniferous times (period in geological time scale around 225
million years ago). Glaciation is the process by which the earth is covered
by glaciers or ice sheets. This glaciation had affected most of the southern
continents while northern Europe and Greenland had experienced tropical
conditions. The present day southern continents were centred on the pole
and the northern continents around equator (Fig. 15.3a). Wegener also
suggested that the continental drift occurred in response to the centripetal
force experienced by the high standing continents because of the Earth’s
rotation. Centripetal force is a force which acts on a body moving in a
circular path and is directed towards the centre around which the body is
moving.

27
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225 Million years ago

(a)

200 Million years ago

(b)

Present Day
(c)
Fig. 15.3: Stages of evolution of different continents from: a) Supercontinent
Pangaea; b) Pangaea began to break up about 200 million years
ago; and c) Eventually fragmenting into the continents as we know
them today. (Source : www.usgs.gov.)

Though Wegener’s theory was based on data which were drawn from several
disciplines but it had certain limitations. A weakness in Wegener’s theory was
28 that it could not satisfactorily answer the most fundamental question raised by
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
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his critics, i.e. what kind of forces could be strong enough to move such large
masses of solid rock over such great distances?
Undaunted by rejection, Wegener devoted the rest of his life in pursuing additional
evidences to defend his theory. He froze to death in 1930 during an expedition
crossing the Greenland ice cap but the controversy he spawned raged on.
In 1937, Alexander Du Toit, Professor of Geology at Johannesburg University
and one of Wegener’s staunchest supporters, proposed that Pangaea
(Fig.15.3a) first broke into two large continental landmasses, Laurasia
(comprising of North America, Greenland, Europe and parts of Asia) in the
northern hemisphere and Gondwanaland (consisting of South America,
Antarctica, Africa, Madagascar, India and Australia) in the southern
hemisphere (Fig. 15.3b). Laurasia and Gondwanaland then continued to break
apart into continents that exist today (Fig. 15.3c). The term ‘Laurasia’ was
developed from a combination of Laurentia (a region of Canada) and Asia,
while Gondwanaland (meaning land of Gonds) after an ancient tribe in Madhya
Pradesh. The two supercontinents Laurasia and Gondwanaland were
separated by an ocean named ‘Palaeo-Tethys’ after the Greek goddess of the
sea ‘Tethys’.

15.2.1 Evidences of Continental Drift

We have read about historical development of theory of continental drift. This
was based on number of supporting evidences.
Let us discuss some of them.
Geometrical reconstruction: If you paste the world map on the
cardboard and cut it into pieces, the geometrical shape of the continents
and try to bring together the adjacent continents, you would find that the
pieces fit together like zig-saw (Fig 15.4). This shows that the continents
may have been once together and later on fragmented and drifted apart.
Wegner noticed the remarkable similarity between the coastlines on
opposite sides of Atlantic Ocean (Fig. 15.1 and 15.2).
Geological evidences: Geologically, the coastlines of the landmass on
both sides of the Atlantic Ocean are found to be identical in terms of
lithology and stratigraphy, fossil content, geologic structures and style of
tectonic deformation. For example, Wegner found the evidence of 2.2
billion year old igneous rocks in Brazil that closely resembled similarly
aged rocks in Africa. Similar evidences can be found in mountain belts
that terminate at one coastline and reappear on landmasses across the
ocean.
Palaeoclimatic evidences: Wegener strongly felt that palaeoclimatic
(palaeo=ancient, climate=climate) data would support the idea of mobile
continents. The evidences of glaciations of Carboniferous times (200
million years ago) are found equally on the South America, southern
Africa, Madagascar, Falkland, peninsular India, Australia and Antarctica,
suggesting they were once locked up landmasses, during Carboniferous
period as shown in Fig. 15.3.
Palaeontological evidences: Fossils of land plants like Glossopteris
and Gangamopteris were found in rocks 225 million years ago,
widespread in places over Africa, Australia, India, which are now widely 29
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
..........................................................................................................................................................................
separated. Remember!! that seeds of these extinct plant species cannot
survive in the saline water of ocean; hence, it is obvious the plants grew
and became extinct at the time when all these continents were part of
Gondwanaland.

Sea floor spreading: Expansion in the floor area of the ocean is called
sea floor spreading. The studies of sea floor spreading phenomenon
have confirmed that the continents were once united as a
supercontinent Pangaea which later got fragmented and drifted. The sea
floor between these drifted continental blocks has spread during last 200
million years. We will study more about sea floor spreading in Section
15.3.

Palaeomagnetic evidences: Palaeomagnetic evidences are based on

study of the Earth’s magnetic field through the geological time. Let us
learn about it by citing an example. We know that a typical ocean also
has an underwater range of mountains, which is generally known as
Mid-Oceanic Ridge (MOR). You can notice the presence of MOR in the
ocean floor in Fig. 15.2. The MOR has been active in geological past and
is still active. It pours out lava (called basalt-rock rich in iron and
magnesium minerals) under the sea. The magnetic mineral in newly
formed lava would preserve magnetic record of Earth’s polarity of that
time, when it was being solidified from magma. The crystallization of
magnetic minerals like magnetite (Fe3O4) is affected by magnetic forces.
If the lava contains such minerals then the magnetic records of that
particular time, such as north and south magnetic poles and magnetic
force lines will be preserved in such magnetic minerals. This will remain
preserved until it gets demagnetised by temperatures beyond certain
critical limit called Curie temperature. Palaeomagnetic records are
studied with the help of an instrument called magnetometer. If a ship with
a magnetometer moves over the ocean, many strips of normal and
reversed polarity are observed in the oceanic floors. The records of
these strips of normal and reversed polarity are found to be symmetrical
as mirror image along the MOR., Two Englishmen- Drummond H.
Matthews and Frederick J. Vine in 1963 proposed that the new oceanic
crust acted like a magnetic tape recorder insofar as magnetic anomaly
strips parallel to the ridge. These strips of basalt had been magnetised
alternately in normal and reversed order, reflecting the changes in
polarity of the Earth’s magnetic field.
More and more such palaeomagnetic studies on the Earth have
suggested that the magnetic north and south poles have wandered from
place to place and even reversed their positions in its history. It has been
observed that the magnetic pole-positions of the present globe were
different during the geologic past and by joining these poles, a curve is
obtained, which is known as polar wandering curve. The records of
the polar wandering and polar reversals when analysed over different
continents, suggested that the landmasses were once together and
latter drifted to present positions.
30
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
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15.2.2 Forces Responsible for Drifting of Continents
We have read about various evidences that provide testimony to the theory of
continental drift. Now let us acquaint ourselves with different ideas put forth by
various people about the forces responsible for drifting of the continents.

Wegener’s concept: According to Alfred Wegener, the continents are

dominantly formed of lighter material ‘SiAl’, comprising of silicon (Si) and
aluminum (Al) which float over relatively denser rock material ‘SiMa’-
comprising of silicon (Si) and magnesium (Mg). You have learnt about Sial
and SiMa in Unit 1 and Unit 4 of this course. The drifting of the continents
(SiAl), is attributed to the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon or forces
which cause tides in the ocean. The concept was rejected because the
tidal forces are too small for providing forces responsible for continental
drift.

Holmes’s Convection Current concept: In 1928, Arthur Holmes

invoked the mechanism of thermal convection in the mantle as the driving
force of continental drift. According to him, convection currents were
generated due to radioactive heating in the interior of the Earth. The
concept could not gain importance because the radioactive heating is too
low to cause movements of continents. Though both Wegener and
Holmes’ ideas of forces responsible for drifting continents are rejected but
they laid the foundation from which modern ideas developed.

Plate Tectonic theory: Although Wegener’s theory of continental drift

had many evidences in its support but it could not explain properly the
forces responsible for the drifting of the continents. Plate tectonic theory
considers the role of convection currents in the drifting of the continents
but not in the same way as Holmes had suggested. The processes
involved in the plate tectonics will be discussed in detail in Unit 16. We
would briefly discuss in this unit the theory of plate tectonics and how it is
able to explain the drifting mechanism of the continents

15.3 HYPOTHESIS OF SEA FLOOR

SPREADING
We have talked about sea floor spreading while discussing about evidences of
continental drift. Now let us go through its historical developments.

The term sea floor spreading was proposed in 1961 by Naval Reserve Rear
Admiral Robert S. Dietz, a scientist with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
and Professor Harry H. Hess of Princeton University in 1962 in their endeavor
to explain the phenomenon of continental drift. Hess’ research ultimately
resulted in a ground-breaking hypothesis now better known as sea floor
spreading. It is considered as one of the most important contributions in the
evolution of plate tectonics theory.

Hess explained the principle of ocean floor spreading with the example of
Atlantic Ocean. According to him, the drift between the North America and
Europe continents would have been accomplished by the gradual growth of
Atlantic Ocean (Fig.15.1 and 15.2). As the ocean gradually grows wider the 31
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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continental margins move apart; or in other words, continents drift. He
calculated that South America and Africa had both moved 2500 km apart
during an interval of 250 million years from the mid-Atlantic ridge at the rate of
10 mm/year.

The growth of the ocean floor requires formation of new crustal material for
which it is believed that volcanic activity was continuously going on under sea
along a ridge in middle portion of the ocean. As already mentioned earlier,
these are called Mid-Oceanic Ridges (MORs), where lava is continuously
pouring out from deeper portion of the Earth adding up new crustal material
on both flanks.

15.3.1 Evidence of Sea Floor Spreading

The data generated from Joint Oceanographic Institutions Deep Earth
Sampling (JOIDES) project in 1969 (Fig. 15.4), the Deep Sea Drilling Project
(DSDP), and International Phase of Ocean Drilling (IPOD) project in 1976
provided testing ground for sea floor spreading. These generated the
evidences in favour of sea floor spreading hypothesis. Let us read about the
evidences in favour of sea floor spreading.

Fig. 15.4: JOIDES Resolution is the deep-sea drilling ship of the 1990s, which
carries more than 9,000 m of drill pipe, is capable of precise
positioning and deeper drilling. (Source: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/
32 dynamic/glomar.html)
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
..........................................................................................................................................................................
1. Age of rocks: Samples obtained from the direct drilling of the ocean floor
were dated isotopically and it was found that the youngest rocks are
observed along MOR while the older rocks occur in the marginal part of
the ocean, towards the continent. It indicates that age of the rocks
gradually increases towards continent in a symmetrical pattern on both
flanks of the MOR (Fig. 15.5).

Fig. 15.5: Computer-generated detailed topographic map of a segment of

the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, a small part of the East Pacific Rise.
“Warm” colours (yellow to red) indicate the ridge rising above
the seafloor, and the “cool” colours (green to blue) represent
lower elevations. (Source: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/
topomap.html)

2. Anomalous high values of heat: The active volcanic islands are

associated with the crest of Mid Atlantic ridge. Frequent occurrence of
earthquakes and lack of sediments at ridge crests explain sea floor
spreading. The anomalous high values of heat reflect the emplacement of
hot mantle-derived material in the vicinity of the crest of Mid Oceanic
Ridge.
3. Drilling and dredging: Direct observations, drilling and dredging have
provided evidences for sea floor spreading. No material more than about
180 million years in age had ever been recorded from deep ocean floor.
33
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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4. Magnetic anomalies: Palaeomagnetic survey and magnetic anomalies
recorded in the rocks of ocean floor provide an evidence for sea floor
spreading. Magnetic Anomaly is a local variation in the Earth’s magnetic
field resulting from variations in the chemistry or magnetism of the rocks.
Mapping of variation over an area is valuable in detecting structures
obscured by overlying material.

5. Looking for alternate phenomenon: Although Hess’ idea of sea

floor spreading appears to be genuine even with the modern data,
if we consider that sea is expanding and nothing of the continent or
ocean is being destroyed or consumed, the Earth’s area would
have expanded to a great extent! Since the Earth is not increasing
in surface area by any significant amount, there must be some
other phenomenon that maintains the constant surface area of the
Earth. Which is that phenomenon?
We will try to find answer for this question later in this unit when we
study about plate tectonic theory but before that let us try to know what
actually causes sea floor to expand or spread.

SAQ 1
a) What are Pangaea and Panthalassa?
b) List the evidences in favour of continental drift theory.
c) Enumerate evidences of sea floor spreading.

15.3.2 Driving Mechanism of Sea Floor Spreading

We have learnt about evidences of seafloor spreading.
Now let us look at the mechanisms responsible for sea floor spreading.
Arthur Holmes proposed that the chief driving mechanism for the sea
floor spreading could be the convection currents generated within the
interior of the Earth. He considered that there is continuous heat
generation in the interior of the Earth due to presence of radioactive
elements due to which the convection currents rise above in a circulatory
motion. Let us understand this with an example. This phenomenon is just
like heating process in liquids. If we put few crystals of potassium
permanganate in a beaker containing water and heat the beaker from
below, we will notice the convection currents rising up and down following
a circulatory motion (Fig. 15.6). Thus, if pieces of objects (such as
segments of Earth’s crust) are floating they will attain a divergent motion
and distance between them may increase. The places, where two
convection currents are moving in opposite directions the ocean floor
above expands and new MOR lava emerges and spreads over the ocean
floor. His idea could not get acceptance because heat produced by
radioactive minerals is not enough to cause such motion. However, later
the idea of convection current helped in development of plate tectonic
34 concept.
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
..........................................................................................................................................................................

Fig. 15.6: Schematic showing convection currents motion.

According to the plate tectonic concept the convection currents are generated
in a circulatory motion which ascend from deep mantle and come to the upper
mantle and move to some distances following the periphery and finally
descend back to the deep mantle. These convection currents have
tremendous power to move or drag the lithospheric plate to some distance
over the asthenosphere. You will learn more about lithospheric plate and
asthenosphere under concepts of plate tectonics later in this unit. At the
places where such convection currents have their motion in opposite
directions, the lithospheric blocks called ‘plates’ move in opposite directions
(Fig. 15.7). The opposite movements of the plates cause development of a
fracture at the MOR, which is filled up immediately by upwelling of lava due to
submarine volcanism. This lava forms the newest crust. Since the convection
currents are continuously in motion, the new crust is continuously being
added on the sea floor causing sea floor spreading. The convection currents
are generated not through radioactive minerals as proposed by Holmes but
due to the internal heat of the mantle, while the lithosphere is relatively cool.

Fig. 15.7: Cells of convection currents in the interior of the Earth.

(Source: www.indiana.edu/~g105lab/1425chap13.htm) 35
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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15.4 THEORIES OF MOUNTAIN BUILDING
Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain the causes of mountain
building. Some of these theories are totally outdated now but they are being
mentioned here to provide a historical resume of thought process which
eventually terminated in the modern theory of plate tectonics. They are listed
below:
1. Contraction Hypothesis
2. Expansion Hypothesis
3. Continental Drift Hypothesis
4. Oscillation and Undation Hypothesis
5. Convection Current Hypothesis
6. Plate Tectonics Theory

15.4.1 Contraction Hypothesis

The idea of contraction hypothesis was given by Warision in nineteenth
century. This was later developed by Jeffreys in 1929, on the basis of the
thermal history of the Earth. He proposed that the inner portion of the
mantle below 700 km was neither cooling nor changing in volume and the
outermost layer about 100 km had already cooled to reach equilibrium and
this too was not changing in volume. Thus cooling and contraction were
confined to the layers at the depth between 100 km and 700 km. Since the
inner radius of this layer was fixed, this zone could contract only by
stretching and thinning. This zone was thus in tension but its contraction
and thinning resulted in compression in the outermost layer above 100 km.
Jeffreys called the surface at about 100 km depth where the change from
extension to compression occurred, as ‘level of no strain’. According to
Jefferys mountains were built by this contraction and stretching in the
outermost layer of the earth. The theory could not gain popularity because
certain phenomena like metamorphism seen in the mountains could not be
explained.

15.4.2 Expansion Hypothesis

Jolly proposed in 1925 that Earth is expanding because of radioactive
heating. Carey in 1958 postulated that since oceanic area is expanding, the
globe as a whole is also expanding. Palaeomagnetic and palaeoclimatic
studies was the resonance to his thought that the original diameter of the
Earth was less than half of its present size and surface area was less than
a quarter. Thus, worldwide expansion breaks the Earth’s crust into blocks.
These blocks tend to rotate sinistrally (anticlockwise) in the southern and
dextrally (clockwise) in the northern hemisphere because of shearing
forces created between polar and equatorial regions due to adjustment of
angular momentum. According to Jolly, these forces are responsible for
mountain building. Many Earth scientists like Egyed in 1957, Tuzo J. Wilson
in 1961, A. J. Eardley in 1962 also admitted that Earth is slowly expanding.
36
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
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Now the questions which remain to be answered are; has the expansion
actually occurred and has the ocean water remained constant in volume?

15.4.3 Continental Drift Hypothesis

Wegener believed that the Earth comprises three layer system; the outer layer
as ‘SiAl’, intermediate layer as ‘SiMa’ and innermost layer as ‘Nife’. SiAl
comprises lighter masses of continents, which float over ocean floor SiMa.
According to him Pangaea was disrupted and the broken land mass or
continents drifted away from each other. He also postulated that the
mountains were formed because crumpling occurred due to resistance
offered by SiMa. The observations like shortening across mountains, the
approximate parallelism of the coast line of Atlantic oceans and other
southern continents support his ideas.
The greatest weakness of this hypothesis is that it never revealed
satisfactorily about the forces, which are required to move or drift the
continents. Relationship of deep earthquakes to mountain building also could
not be explained.

15.4.4 Oscillation and Undation Hypothesis

Haarman in 1930 postulated that the disequilibrium in the layered Earth’s crust
is due to the vertical movements, which were generated due to influence of an
undefined cosmic factor. This resulted in the formation of ‘geotumours’
separated by ‘geodepressions’ caused by the flow of sub-crustal sialic matter
forming the depressions to the rising tumours. When the cosmic influence
moved in relation to Earth, the tumours also moved. This resulted in
oscillating action of emergence and submergence. In the second phase, the
sediments in depressions were lifted up, and consequently glided down the
slopes of the new tumours. Later, the folded and structurally accumulated
rocks were lifted up and in the third phase they became mountain chains. On
the basis of Haarman’s theory, Van Betmmelen in 1932 and 1935 suggested
‘Theory of Undation’ according to which the mountain chains were formed by
sub-crustal gliding.
The main objection to the theory is that the basis of cosmic influence is not
known and also the gliding tectonic is not able to explain the structural
features of all mountains on Earth.

15.4.5 Convection Current Hypothesis

The theory of convection current has been given by Holmes in 1930 and
several other tectonic geologists. This theory is based on the heat flow in the
mantle. Heat flow is the production of the temperature gradient and the
thermal conductivity of the mantle. Menard’s study in 1960 and 1961 has
revealed a zone of abnormally high heat flow along East Pacific Rise and low
heat flow in the east of the East Pacific Rise. Menard believes that the
descending convection current causes a certain amount of compression in
the trench regions. Such heat flow anomalies is also supported by the
geoscientists like Dietz in 1961, Wilson in 1963 and Hess in 1962 proposed 37
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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that the ocean floor descends into the marginal trenches under the influence
of convection current in the mantle. The convection current theory thus by and
large assumes that the mountains are formed by such compression. This
theory could explain the pattern of distribution of continents and oceans. It
could also account for the features of active island arcs (such as Japan,
Philippines). Currents are necessary to carry off heat generated within the
Earth by radioactive elements. Despite these supporting evidences, the main
objection for the theory was that it assumes the old idea of the permanency of
the continental blocks. However, it must be admitted that convection current
theory as proposed by Holmes was a precursor to plate tectonic movement
which recognises the role of convection currents as the main force behind
plate movement.

15.4.6 Plate Tectonics Theory

The plate tectonic theory came into light in 1970s through the combined efforts
of many scientists of different countries working together or independently. It is
considered a comprehensive theory which is able to explain many
complexities of continental drift, volcanism, folding, faulting orogeny, etc. This
theory assumes that the globe is made up of rigid masses called ‘plate’
consisting of lithosphere which floats and moves along the convection current
over the asthenosphere.
The main difference between the continental drift theory and the plate
tectonics is that the former postulates the movement within the lithosphere
itself, i.e. between continents and oceans while the later talks of the total
movement of the lithosphere over the asthenosphere. A plate theory
comprises the total lithosphere.
The convection current may causes three types of plate movements, namely -
l convergent – when two plates move towards each other.
l divergent – when two plates move away from each other
l strike-slip – when two plates neither move away nor towards each other
but they slide past each other. This type of motion occurs along large
strike-slip faults in the ocean. These faults are called transform faults.
According to this theory convergent motion of plates and their collision is
responsible for mountain building. We will read in detail about the concept of
plate tectonics in Unit 16 Plate Tectonics but before that let us learn about the
mountain building periods here.

15.5 MOUNTAIN BUILDING PERIODS

Study of different mountains of the world reveals that some mountains, like
Aravalli, are very old and now they are decaying while some others like
Himalaya, are young and still rising. With the advent of theory of Plate
Tectonics we are now aware that there were many more mountains since the
Earth was formed in its geological past. Thus, Earth has witnessed the
process of mountain building at different times. This mountain building takes
38 place in impulses called orogenic phases. An orogenic period comprises
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
..........................................................................................................................................................................
several orogenic phases. Orogenic Belt consists of one or several related
mountain systems which have been deformed in an orogenic period.

We have read in Unit 14 about classification of mountains based on orogenic

periods. In the history of the Earth, many major orogenic periods have been
recorded. Some of these are:

Precambrian orogeny (before 550 million years ago) comprising several

orogenic periods dating from 3800 to 550 million years ago for example
Rodinian orogeny at 1100 ma;

Caledonian mountains came into existence between approximately 430

and 380 million years ago, e.g. Aravallis and Mahadeo hills of India,
Appalachians of North America are the consequence of Caledonian
orogeny;

Hercynian orogeny (Between 350 and 250 million years ago). It is also
called as Variscan Orogeny in Europe; and

Tertiary or Alpine or Himalayan orogeny (Palaeocene i.e. 65 million

years ago to present day)

SAQ 2
a) Convection currents have tremendous power to move or drag the
............................ to some horizontal distance over the asthenosphere.
b) Expansion Hypothesis proposed that Earth is expanding because of
............................ .
c) The theory of convection current is based on the ....................................
in the mantle.
d) 3 types of plate boundaries are convergent, divergent and.....................
......................................................

15.6 SUMMARY
In this unit we have learnt about various hypotheses and theories related to
mountain building. Let us summarise what we have learnt in this unit:
Mountain building includes the geological processes related to plate
tectonics, deformation, shortening of crust, folding, faulting, volcanic
activity, igneous intrusion and metamorphism. The process of mountain
building is also known as orogenesis.
Alfred Wegener recognised the assemblage of all continents as a
supercontinent during Carboniferous period (~ 220 million years ago) and
named it as ‘Pangaea’ and remaining oceanic part as ‘Panthalassa’. All
present day continents are broken into fragments from Pangaea and
have moved away from each other. The theory describing movement of
the continents is referred to as continental drift theory. 39
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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There are many evidences for continental drift. They are based on
geometrical reconstruction, geological, paleoclimatic, paleontological, sea
floor spreading and palaeomagnetic evidences.

Harry Hess proposed the hypothesis of sea floor spreading, according to

which the floor of the ocean is continuously expanding.
Evidences for hypothesis of sea floor spreading are based on age of
rocks, anomalous high heat values, direct observations, drilling and
dredging and magnetic anomalies.
Convection current hypothesis given by Arthur Holmes presumes
movement of the continents and sea floor spreading due to convection
current cycle generated out of radioactive heating in the interior of the
earth
The hypothesis of continental drift, sea floor spreading and convection
current cycles are factual but the processes or mechanisms proposed by
their propounders of these theories are not tenable in the light of present
day knowledge.
Plate tectonics theory developed during 1970s is able to explain many
observed phenomena on earth such as drifting of continents, spreading of
ocean floors, convection current cycles, mountain building, etc.
The mountain building hypotheses include contraction hypothesis,
expansion hypothesis, continental drift hypothesis, oscillation and
undation hypothesis and convection current hypothesis. However
mountain building process is best explained by plate tectonics theory.
Four major orogenic periods have been recorded in the history of the
Earth. These are Precambrian orogeny, Celedonian orogeny, Hercynian
orogeny and Tertiary or Alpine or Himalayan orogeny.

15.7 ACTIVITY
Take a map of the world and try to cut out the continents from it. Arrange the
cut pieces again in their relative position. Try to fit the adjacent continents and
check what do you notice.
Hint : You will observe that they have good fitting for a single supercontinent
(called Pangaea).

15.8 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the theory of continental drift? Give the evidences in support of
continental drift.
2. Explain the forces responsible for drifting of continents as given by
Wegener and Arthur Holmes.
3. Explain sea floor spreading and discuss the different concepts of driving
mechanism for sea floor spreading.
40
Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building
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4. Give a brief account of how the theories for the causes of mountain
building evolved with time.

15.9 REFERENCES
De Sitter, L.U. (1956) Structural Geology, McGraw-Hill Book Company.
http://indiana.edu/~g105lab/1425chap13.htm
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/topomap.html
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/glomar.html
http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/plate_tectonics/continental_drift.html
(Websites accessed between 25th November 2014 and 4th December 2015).

15.10 FURTHER/SUGGESTED READINGS

http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html.
Kearey, P. and Vine, F.J. (2009) Global Tectonics, 3rd Edition, Blackwell
Science Ltd.

15.11 ANSWERS
Self-Assessment Questions
1. a) The assemblage of continents i.e. supercontinent as ‘Pangaea’
(meaning “all lands” in Greek) and remaining oceanic part as
‘Panthalassa’ (meaning ‘all oceans’ in Greek).
b) Geometrical reconstruction, geological evidences, paleoclimatic,
paleontological, seafloor spreading and palaeomagnetic evidences.
c) Please refer to subsection 15.3.1 and discuss in brief about age of
rocks, magnetic anomalies, drilling and dredging and anomalous
high values of heat.
2. a) Lithospheric plates
b) Radioactive heating
c) Heat flow
d) Strike-slip/ Transform fault

Terminal Questions
1. Please refer to section 15.2 and subsection 15.2.1.
2. Please refer to subsection 15.2.2.
3. Your answer must cover salient aspects from section 15.3 and
subsection 15.3.2.
4. Please refer to section 15.4. Your answer should include contraction
hypothesis, expansion hypothesis, continental drift hypothesis, oscillation
and undation hypothesis, convection current hypothesis and plate
tectonics theory.

41
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics

16
..........................................................................................................................................................................
UNIT

PLATE TECTONICS
THEORY

Structure
16.1 Introduction 16.6 Features Associated with
Expected Learning Different Plate Boundaries
Outcomes 16.7 Plate Tectonics Explanations for
Important Phenomena
16.2 Basic Considerations of
Plate Tectonics Earthquakes
Volcanoes
16.3 Lithospheric Plates
Continental Drift and Sea Floor
16.4 Identifying Plates of Earth Spreading
Observed Facts about Tectonic Mountain Building
Acitivities 16.8 Case Study: Evolution of Himalaya
Major Plates of the World 16.9 Summary
Plate Boundary and Plate
16.10 Activity
Margin
16.11 Terminal Questions
16.5 Principles of Plates Tectonics
16.12 References
16.13 Further / Suggested Readings
16.14 Answers

16.1 INTRODUCTION
In the previous unit, we were introduced to the term ‘plate tectonics’. Tectonics comes from
the Greek word tekton, meaning ‘builder’. You might have heard this term while discussing
natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunami or volcanic activity in television and radio
programmes. This is because plate tectonics is considered to be a comprehensive theory
which is able to explain many complexities of continental drift, volcanism, folding, faulting,
orogeny that have transformed the landscape features we see across the globe today.

Plate tectonics also known as global tectonics is considered to be fundamental concept in

Earth sciences. It became popular in the decade of sixties of the 20 th century. In the early
1970s, the emergence of the theory of plate tectonics started a revolution in Earth
sciences. This is a landmark in studies related to Earth and is considered as one of the three
most coveted developments in science. Plate tectonics has proven to be as important to the
Earth sciences as the discovery of the structure of atom was to physics and chemistry and
the theory of evolution or deciphering of the DNA structure was to the life sciences. It
became possible to explain diverse phenomenon like earthquakes and the spreading of sea
42 floor in a plausible manner with plate tectonics concept. Sea floor spreading hypothesis was
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
..........................................................................................................................................................................
very influential in setting the stage for the emerging plate tectonics theory. We
have read about continental drift in Unit 15 Theories of Mountain Building.
Plate tectonics theory may be considered as the modern version
of continental drift theory proposed by Alfred Wegener.
Let us learn more about the theory of plate tectonics in this unit.

Expected Learning Outcomes

After reading this unit, you should be able to:

❖ discuss the basic considerations of plate tectonics;

❖ describe the types and nature of lithospheric plates with present day
examples;

❖ explain different types of plate boundary and associated features;

❖ evaluate reasons for the phenomena like earthquakes, volcanoes,

continental drift, sea floor spreading and mountain building; and

❖ elucidate the evolution of Himalaya.

16.2 BASIC CONSIDERATIONS OF PLATE

TECTONICS
Now let us read about the basic consideration of plate tectonics theory.

The quest for scientific explanation of certain observations such as why

earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in very specific areas around the world,
and how and why great mountain ranges like the Alps and Himalaya formed? In
this context let us recall we have already read about ‘Ring of Fire’ encircling the
Pacific Ocean in Unit 4 Earthquakes and Volcanoes of this Course. The gradual
developments in studies carried out by Alfred Wegener (on Continental drift),
Harry Hess (on Sea floor spreading) and Arthur Holmes (on Convection Currents)
paved way for understanding of Earth’s internal processes. However as there
were some shortcomings in their hypotheses which have been modified logically
with the development of plate tectonics theory

Let us acquaint ourselves with the basic considerations of plate tectonics theory
in order to realise them better.

l ‘Sea floor spreading’ occurs and new oceanic crust is continuously

generated at irregular line source that is along the active Mid Oceanic
Ridges (MORs). MORs are under water oceanic ridge systems.

l The phenomenon of convection current circulation is active in the interior

of the Earth. Let us recall that we have learnt about this in section 15.8 of
the previous Unit 15. However, the source of heat for rising of convection
currents is not the thermal gradient heat flow and the radioactivity as
suggested by Holmes. The currents circulating in the mantle are in fact
formed at the boundary of mantle and outer core; where the temperature
is very high. 43
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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The theory accepts that continental drift has occurred in the geological
past and is still in the process. The basic idea in this concept is that the
present position of continent and sea is not a permanent feature of the
Earth’s surface but they undergo continuous change.

The Earth is of constant surface area, and if not, the changes occur at
insignificant rates.

We have read about three broad divisions of the Earth namely, crust,
mantle and core in Block 1 of this course. Plate tectonics however gives
importance to the segment of the Earth called ‘lithosphere’, which
comprises crust and part of upper mantle. ‘Plates’ are rigid segments of
lithosphere, movement of which over ‘asthenosphere’ are responsible for
many tectonic features present on the globe.

Let us learn more about lithosphere, asthenosphere and lithospheric plates in

the next section.

16.3 LITHOSPHERIC PLATES

We have been acquainted with the terms like lithosphere and asthenosphere
in Unit 3 Structure and Composition of Earth. Let us recall these terms in
relation to plate tectonics concept.

Lithosphere: It is the segment of Earth which comprises Earth’s crust

and part of upper mantle lying above asthenosphere (Fig.16.1).
Lithosphere is colder and more resistant outer shell of the Earth. The
continents, oceans and mountains lie on the upper part of lithosphere
that is the crust. The lower boundary of lithosphere is demarcated by
asthenosphere, about which we will discuss little later in this section.

Fig. 16.1: Internal structure of the Earth showing lithosphere and asthenosphere.
(Source: https://igs.indiana.edu/Geothermal)
44
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
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Lithospheric Plates: Earth is constituted of many different segments of
lithosphere known as lithospheric plates. These lithospheric plates are
also known as tectonic plates or simply plates. Let us comprehend this
with the analogy of a soccer ball. We can compare the tectonic plates with
the leather pieces joined together in a soccer ball. The boundary limits of
these plates are however, demarcated by the scientists based on observed
features on the Earth and tectonic activities (not by ocean or continent).

Thickness of the Lithospheric Plates: We have read that temperature

and pressure increases as we go deeper inside the Earth. The delicate
balance of temperature and pressure in the interior of the Earth is
responsible for different physical states of the rocks such as solid, quasi-
solid or liquid state. It has been observed that temperature around
1400oC causes melting of lithospheric plates at depth and the zone of
asthenosphere starts from here. The lower limit of lithospheric plate lies
at an average depth of 100 km. It should also be remembered that the
thickness of lithosphere above the astheonsphere is not uniform but
varies at different locations. It is generally lesser in the oceanic part of
the Earth and greater below the mountains or continents where the
thickness may go up to 300 km (Fig. 16.1).
Types of Lithospheric plates: By now we are aware that lithospheric
plates comprise of the crust and the upper part of mantle. The crust
comprises tremendous highs and lows because it is having high
mountains and deep oceans as well. It becomes obvious that the
lithospheric plates consist of continents and oceans.
The lithospheric plates are of following three types:
Oceanic plate is entirely made up of the oceanic part of the crust. The
oceanic crust is constituted of SiMa. The Pacific Plate is an example of
oceanic plate.
Continental plate is made up of the continental part of the crust. The
continental crust is constituted of SiAl at upper and SiMa at the lower part.
Continent - Oceanic plate consists of the plate containing both
continental as well as oceanic parts of the crust. The continental part
contains both SiAl and SiMa while the oceanic part is only constituted of
sima. Most of the major plates of the world (few exceptions like Pacific
plate) are continent-oceanic plates.
Asthenosphere: The word astheno comes from the Greek combination
of ‘a’ (meaning without) and stheno (meaning strength). It is the layer or
shell of the Earth, which starts just below the lithosphere at around 100
km depth and may extend upto 350 km (Fig. 16.1). This zone is in semi-
viscous state and is also known as Low Velocity Zone (LVZ) because
seismic waves acquire a low velocity in this zone. Seismic waves are
the vibration produced by an earthquake. Asthenosphere is ductile part
of the Earth just below the lithosphere, and is about 180 km thick
and consists of partially molten rock. The lithospheric plates float and
move horizontally over the asthenosphere. The base of the
asthenosphere is defined by the deepest known earthquakes
(approximately 700 km). 45
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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16.4 IDENTIFYING PLATES OF THE EARTH

We have read in the previous section that the plates are considered as rigid
segments of lithosphere therefore we do not expect much tectonic activities
within a plate. However, we cannot expect the same for the boundaries or the
marginal parts of the lithospheric plates. The plate boundaries are marked by
frequent and abundant tectonic activities because of its interaction with the
neighbouring plates. This implies that the high tectonic activity area on the
Earth might be in the vicinity of plate boundaries. Before we actually identify
and demarcate the limits of different plates on globe, let us have a look over
some observed facts related to tectonic activities found over the globe.

16.4.1 Observed Facts about Tectonic Activities

The linear ridges found in the middle of all oceans of the world are called Mid
Oceanic Ridges (MOR) (Fig. 16.2). Quiet type volcanic eruptions are going on
continuously along the MOR.

l Numerous shallow focused earthquake epicenters have been recorded

along these mid oceanic ridges (Fig.16.3).

l Age of the ocean floor rocks are symmetrically distributed along the
MOR. The youngest rocks are found near the MOR while the oldest
rocks occur on the flanks of the ocean towards continent side (Fig.16.4).

l Nowhere in the present day the age of the oceanic floor has been found
to be greater than 280 million years, on the contrary, continental rocks
are found to be greater than 4000 million years (Fig. 16.4).

l The Pacific Ocean is surrounded by active volcanoes. They are so widely

distributed that the peripheral part of Pacific Ocean is often called as ‘ring
of fire’ (Fig.16.5). Most of the deep focus earthquakes are found along this
ring of fire.

l Volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean are not randomly distributed but
they show their alignment along a curved line or arc. Group of these
islands is therefore often called as ‘island arc’. The island arc and the
deep sea trenches in the Pacific Ocean are found side by side in
parallelism (Fig. 16.6). The island arc occurs towards the continent side
in the ocean relative to the trenches.

The above mentioned and many other facts related to earthquake

occurrences, volcanic activities, deep oceanic trenches, occurrence and
alignment of oceanic islands, mountain ranges, palaeomagnetism, polar
wandering histories, palaeoclimatic conditions and fossil contents, etc.
observed by the Earth scientists have helped them to demarcate the limits of
different plates of the present day world. Palaeomagnetism is the study of the
record of the Earth’s magnetic field in rocks, sediments, or archaeological
materials. We have read that polar wandering is the migration of the magnetic
poles of the Earth through geological time. Seven major plates and many
other minor plates have been identified so far. Let us learn more about them
46 in the following section.
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
..........................................................................................................................................................................

Fig. 16.2: The mid-ocean ridge (shown in red) are linear underwater mountains or highlands
found on the ocean floors. (Source: www.eoEarth.org/view/article/164696)

Fig. 16.3: Shaded areas show epicentres of shallow and intermediate earthquakes. Notice that
majority of them occur along the mid-oceanic ridges. 47
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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Fig. 16.4: Age of the oceanic floor. Notice that youngest ocean floor occurs along mid-
oceanic ridges and older rocks occurs symmetrically both sides of the ridges
towards flanks. (Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/
2008_age_of_oceans_plates.jpg)

Fig. 16.5: ‘Ring of Fire’ (shaded area) occuring around the Pacific Ocean. The name is
given so because of abundant active volcanoes present in this zone. The
volcanic islands are found along arcuate lines. Notice that deep sea
48 trenches also occur parallel to the island arcs and the ring of fire.
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
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16.4.2 Major Plates of the World
In the current configuration, there are seven major plates in the world. These
major plates exceed 107 km2 in area (Fig.16.6).

1. Eurasian Plate

2. North American Plate

3. South American Plate

4. African Plate

5. Indo-Australian Plate

6. Pacific Plate

7. Antarctica Plate

Besides the seven major plates, there are twenty minor sized plates as well.
Some of them are-Nazca plate, Scotia plate, Philippines plate, Caribbean
plate, Cocos plate, Juan de Fuca plate, Arabian plate, etc.

Fig. 16.6: Major tectonic plates of the world. (Source: http://indiana.edu/~g105lab/1425chap13.htm)

Let us have a look at Fig.16.6 and try to examine the plates shown in the figure
whether they are continental, oceanic or continent-oceanic type by comparing
with plate boundaries and boundaries of ocean and/or continents. Now we
shall read more about the plate boundaries and plate margins. 49
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16.4.3 Plate Boundary and Plate Margin
Let us now discuss about some fascinating aspects of plate tectonics
concept.

We shall distinguish between plate boundary and plate margin.

Plate boundary is the surface trace of the zone of motion between two
plates. The two plate margins meet at a common plate boundary. Plate
margin is marginal part of a particular plate.

Let us read about three basic types of plate margins or plate boundaries,
based on types of their mutual interactions:

Divergent type: Where two plates move away or diverge from each
other. This type of plate boundary is also known as ‘constructive’ or
‘accreting’ plate boundary.

Convergent type: Where two plates move towards each other or

converge. This type of plate boundary is also known as ‘destructive’ or
‘consuming’ plate boundary.

Transform fault type: Where two plates neither converge nor diverge but
slide past each other. This type of plate boundary is also known as
‘Conservative’ plate boundary.

These three types of plate margins are discussed in the next section at points
5, 6, 7 and 8.

16.5 PRINCIPLES OF PLATE TECTONICS

Let us now learn about the working principles of plate tectonics.

1. The lithospheric plates float over asthenosphere and move horizontally

because of convection currents in the mantle. The convection currents
originate from the boundary of mantle and core (Fig16.7) which move in
cyclic motion in clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

2. The two plates move towards each other if the two nearby convection
current cycles converge to a common direction. Where the convection
currents have their movements in opposite directions, the plates
floating over them also have a divergent motion relative to each other
(Fig 16.7).

3. Mid Oceanic Ridges (MORs) are formed along the divergent plate
boundary (Fig. 16.8). New magma rises up along the MOR to fill the gap
between the two diverging plates and forms new ocean floor on both
flanks of the MOR. This submarine volcanism is continuously going on
along MOR. Plate tectonics assumes that the new lava once solidifies
becomes part of the plate by adding up new crust in both the plates.
Thus, new crust is formed at divergent plate boundary and hence the
divergent plate boundaries are also called as constructive plate boundary
50 or accreting plate boundary.
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
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Fig. 16.7: Cells of convection currents in the interior of the Earth.

(Source: www.indiana.edu/~g105lab/1425chap13.htm)

4. Deep oceanic trenches are formed near the convergent plate boundary
(Fig. 16.8 and 16.9). When the two oceanic plates move towards each
other, one of them (with higher density) goes below the other. This
phenomenon has been termed as subduction, and the downgoing plate
is generally referred as subducting plate while the other as overriding
plate. The zone along which subduction occurs is known as subduction
zone or Benioff zone (named after the scientist Benioff who
discovered it).

Fig. 16.8: Plates move apart from a divergent boundary and get converge along a
convergent boundary according to plate tectonics theory. Mid Oceanic
Ridges are displaced by transform faults at transform fault boundary.
51
(Source: http://indiana.edu/~g105lab/1425chap13.htm)
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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Oceanic-continental convergence
Fig. 16.9: Subduction zone or Benioff zone, which are only found near
trenches.

5. Continuous convergence of oceanic plates causes subducting plate

go deeper and deeper into the mantle where it ultimately melts due to
high temperature (Fig. 16.8 and Fig. 16.9). Thus at convergent plate
boundaries the crust is consumed or destroyed by melting. The
convergent plate boundary is therefore often called as consuming or
destructive plate boundary. Melting causes increase in volume of
the rock material and hence the density of the new melt (or
regenerated magma) is lighter than surrounding rocks. Due to
buoyancy this magma rises upwards and sometimes it even reaches
to the surface of the overriding plate forming volcanic islands in the
ocean. We have already read in the previous section that a group of
such volcanic islands is termed island arc.
6. In cases where convergence is between two continental plates; these
plates do not undergo subduction instead they collide, deform, get
folded and rise upwards to form mountains. Plate tectonics considers
that continental part of the plate is made up of lightest material (sial)
which cannot subduct (in denser sima) and hence it always float at
top parts of the Earth. In case of convergence between continental
and continent-oceanic plates, the oceanic part may subduct but not
the continental part.
7. According to plate tectonics principles, the new crust are
continuously being created at divergent margin and destroyed at
consuming plate boundaries. Hence, the sum total of Earth’s surface
area is maintained as it is neither increasing nor decreasing
significantly.
8. Since Earth is a spherical body, movements of the plates are adjusted
by many strike- slip faults in order to maintain the spherical geometry of
52
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
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the Earth. These faults are known as transform faults which cross cut
the Mid Oceanic Ridges (MORs) (Fig. 16.8 and 16.10). It disrupts the
divergent plate boundary (MORs) at many places but here no crust is
being created or destroyed. Therefore, the transform fault boundary is
also known as conservative plate boundary.

9. You have read that volcanic rock are generated at the plate boundaries,
e.g. subduction zones and along the Mid Ridges. Volcanism also
occurs within the plate interior. This phenomenon is known as
Intraplate Volcanism. These intraplate regions with voluminous
volcanism are called as Hotspots. Most hotspots are underlain by large
plume of anomalously hot mantle. These mantle plumes are generated
in the lower mantle and rise slowly throught the mantle by convection
currents. Deccan Volcanism in India (covering many states) is the result
of intraplate volcanism during Cretaceous period when Indian Plate
came over the Reunion Hotspot.

l Watch this video to know about Deccan Volcanism, mantle plume and
hotspot:
Deccan Volcanism-an Inside Story
Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a3glcg0oGs

Fig. 16.10: Transform faults displacing mid-oceanic ridges.

(Source: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html#anchor3617237)

We have read about principles of plate tectonics and different types of plate
boundaries. Let us now discuss about the features associated with these
plate boundaries.
53
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16.6 FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH

DIFFERENT PLATE BOUNDARIES
Some of the characteristic features that are generally observed along the
different types of plate boundaries are summarised in the Table 16.1 with
present day examples.
Table 16.1: Features observed along different types
of plate boundaries
Type of Nature of Plate Boundary
Plate
Boundary Oceanic - Oceanic Oceanic - Continental Continental -
Continental

Divergent Mid Oceanic Ridge, shallow Rift valley, shallow

focus earthquakes, narrow belt earthquake, wide
of submarine lava on ridge - zone of volcanoes.
flanks. Example: Mid Atlantic Example: Great
Ridge (Figs. 16.2, 16.3, 16.4) African Rift.

Convergent Oceanic trench, volcanoes Ocean trench and Younger mountain

and volcanic islands arcs; mountain range in ranges, shallow
shallow, intermediate and close association; and intermediate
deep earthquakes. shallow, intermediate earthquakes, no
Example: Mariana trench, and deep earthquakes, volcanoes.
Islands of Japan and wide belt of volcanoes. Example:
Philippines in Pacific Ocean Example: Peru-Chile Himalaya, Alps
(Fig.16.5). Trench, Andes mountains
Mountains (Fig.16.5)

Transform Fracture/ Fault zone of ridge Transform faults

Fault and valleys at Mid Oceanic offsetting MOR,
Ridge, shallow earthquakes, shallow earthquakes,
Narrow belt only between broad zone, no -
offset ridges, No volcanoes volcanoes.
(Fig. 16.10) Example: San
Andreas Fault

SAQ 1
a) Define plate.
b) Distinguish between oceanic and continental plate.
c) List the seven major plates on the Earth.
d) Differentiate between divergent and convergent plate boundaries
e) How conservative boundaries are different from divergent and convergent
plate boundaries.

16.7 PLATE TECTONICS EXPLANATIONS

FOR IMPORTANT PHENOMENA
We have read about earthquake and volcanoes in Unit 4 Earthquake and
Volcanoes and about sea floor spreading, continental drift and mountain
54 building in the previous Units 14 and 15. Let us now review the various
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
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phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activities, sea floor spreading,
continental drift and mountain building with the help of Plate Tectonics Theory.

16.7.1 Earthquakes
Now we know that the plates are continuously moving however, we cannot see
this movement because they are too slow to be noticed in life span of a human
being. The movement is of the order of growth rate of your nails; say 2.5 cm/
year to 15 cm/year or so. The existing stable rocks on the globe naturally
oppose this movement which results in the accumulation of stresses in the
rocks. With time, these accumulated stresses exceed the strength of the
rocks and the rocks get ruptured. Thus, the stored strain energy is suddenly
released due to which, we experience the earthquake tremors. This theory of
earthquake generation is known as Elastic Rebound Theory because this is
just like sudden release of energy from elastic rubber bands, which suddenly
breaks on continued stretching and releases the stored energy.

Focus of an earthquake is the actual place of rupture which is generally

located at deeper level in the Earth. The convergent plate boundaries are
highly prone to earthquakes because of opposed motion of the two plates. The
deep focus earthquakes (>300 km depth) are generally found near the Benioff
zone where the plates subduct to this depth (Fig. 16.11b). Therefore large
number of earthquakes comes every year in the peripheral parts of the Pacific
Ocean (Fig.16.12) where subduction zones occur. Shallow and intermediate
focus earthquakes are common along the Mid Oceanic Ridges at divergent
plate boundaries (Fig. 16.11a, 16.3 and 16.12). Earthquakes along transform
fault boundary are shallow and have their focus within the crust (Fig. 16.11c).

Volcances
Ridge (Volcanic arc) Trench Earthquakes within crust

Lithosphere

Asthenosphere

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 16.11: Earthquakes along different plate boundaries: a) Shallow and intermediate focus at divergent
plate boundary; b) Deep focus earthqukes at convergent plate boundary; and c) Shallow
focus earthqukes at transform Fault plate boundary.
(Source: http://age-of-the-sage.org/tectonic_plates/boundaries_boundary_types.html)
55
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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Fig. 16.12: Map showing the relationship between the earthquakes, volcanoes and the plate
boundaries. Also indicated on the map is the Ring of Fire.
(Source: www.geology.isu.edu)

16.7.2 Volcanoes
While reading the concepts and principles of Plate Tectonics you may have
realised by now that there are two types of plate boundaries along which
volcanic activities may occur. These are the divergent plate boundary and
the convergent plate boundary. At divergent plate boundary where two
plates move away from each other, are the Mid-Oceanic Ridges (Fig. 16.8,
16.11a). Here volcanic activities always go on underwater quietly without
much explosion. This is because the magma finds easy route between two
opposite moving plates and no significant resistance is offered from the
overlying crust.

The source of magma (magma chamber) at convergent plate boundary lies at

greater depth compared to the divergent plate margins because here they are
generated by the melting of the downgoing (subducting) plate (Fig.16.8 and
16.9). This magma has to travel greater distance upwards to come up on the
surface after overcoming the resistance of the overlying rocks. Only those
magmas are able to outpour at surface which have developed enough forces
to come up on the surface. Therefore volcanoes of the island arcs near the
convergent plate margins are full of explosive activities. You may note that
these volcanoes occur on the overriding plates only at small distance from the
deep oceanic trenches or the convergent plate boundary (Fig.16.8 and 16.9).
Fig. 16.12 depicts the map of active volcanoes on the Earth along with the
present day plate boundaries. The association of volcanic activities and plate
56 margins can be easily noticed in Fig. 16.12.
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
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16.7.3 Continental Drift and Sea Floor Spreading

Now let us learn about the explanations of Plate Tectonics theory for
continental drift and sea floor spreading. According to plate tectonic theory,
the phenomenon of continental drift was proposed by Wegener. The theory
says that continents drift away from the divergent plate margins usually
located at Mid Oceanic Ridges located at places where two convection
current cycles move upwards and diverge when they reach up to
asthenosphere (Fig. 16.7 and 16.8). As a result, the lithospheric plates
floating above these currents also diverge which makes the continental
portion of the lithospheric plate to drift away. New magma generated from
magma chamber occurring at depth rises up to fill the gap developed by
divergent motion of the plate at Mid Oceanic Ridge (MOR). Thus, new lava
is added up in the ocean floor to form new crust in both the diverging
plates. One of the basic assumptions of the plate tectonic theory is that the
new lava after its solidification is not a separate entity but it becomes a part
of the any of the two plates over which it solidifies. You will recall that
because of this, the boundary is also called as constructive or accreting
plate boundary. The newly formed oceanic crust is added to expand the
ocean floor or in other words, the ocean floor spreading occurs. This
process occurs in such a way that the youngest crust is always along the
MOR and oldest ocean floor on the flanks of the ocean towards the
continent (Fig 16.4). The newly formed oceanic crust forces to move the
entire plate including the continental part associated with the plate,
symmetrically away from the spreading centre, that is, Mid-Oceanic Ridge.
As a result continents too drift away from MOR or continental drift occurs.
The Atlantic Ocean presents a typical example of such continental drift as
shown in Fig. 16.4.

16.7.4 Mountain Building

The processes of mountain building operate at convergent plate margins
where two lithospheric plates are located over two converging downwards
convection current cycles in mantle. Because of convergence, one plate
goes down or subducts below the other and finally melts up due to high
temperature at depth and get destroyed or consumed. We should note that
only the oceanic part of the lithospheric plate can subduct not the
continental part because continents are made of lighter density masses.
When the oceanic part of the plate is completely subducted, the continental
parts of the plates collide against each other due to continued convergence.
It is important for us to note that the continental part or sialic crust can never
go down to subduct because it is less dense. Recall that you have read
about sialic crust in Unit 3. The continental or sialic part of the crust is just
like the cream floating over milk which cannot be immerse into denser milk.
Buoyancy does not allow continental crust to subduct. This collision of the
plates causes upward movement of the continental material or sediments
and thus the mountains are formed. Compressional forces cause folding of
the sediments therefore; these mountains are also called as Fold
Mountains. The continued convergence of plate causes rise of mountains
57
Block 4 Mountain Building and Plate Tectonics
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higher and higher as in the case of Himalaya which is still rising. In nutshell,
we may summarise that according to the plate tectonic theory, ‘the
mountains are formed due to collision of continental plates at convergent
plate boundary’.
Let us now comprehend in the light of plate tectonics concept the story of
formation of the Himalaya which resulted due to the collision of Indian plate
with Eurasian plate.

16.8 CASE STUDY: EVOLUTION OF

HIMALAYA
Watch these two videos to know about Himalaya and its evolution
1. Himalaya-an Overview
Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=VK5Cglisa1Y
2. Evolution of Himalaya
Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=g VGZKqrjVZY
Himalaya is one of those mountains of the world, which are still in the
process of growing. In order to describe the evolution of Himalaya scientists
begin the story from about 250 million years ago (Permian period) when all
the continents were united as a single supercontinent ‘Pangaea’
(Fig. 16.13a) and all the oceans as Panthalassa.
Initially, Pangaea fragmented into two major landmasses called
Laurasia -comprised of North America, Europe, Asia, Greenland, etc.)
and Gondwanaland- comprised rest of the continental world including
Africa, South America, Antarctica, Australia, India, etc. Around 200
million years ago (Triassic period), Laurasia started moving towards
north while Gondwanaland towards south. The new ocean created
between these two major landmasses was named as Tethys Ocean
(Fig.16.13b).
Further fragmentation of Gondwanaland occurred around 145 million
years ago (during Jurassic period) and Indian landmass (now onwards
called as Indian plate) started moving northwards, as a result a new
ocean called ‘Indian ocean’ was created (Fig.16.13c). The newly
created Indian Plate was a continent-oceanic type.
Continued movement of Indian plate allowed Indian Ocean to expand
at the cost of Tethys Ocean. The northward movement of Indian plate
caused convergence between Indian Plate and north lying Eurasian
Plate (Fig. 16.13d). As a result, the oceanic part started subducting
below the Eurasian plate. Fig. 16.13d presents the land and ocean
configuration at about 65 million years ago (during Cretaceous period),
where you can see that area of Tethys Ocean has decreased while that
of the Indian Ocean increased.
Gradually, all the oceanic crust of Indian plate got subducted and
consumed. The Tethys Ocean lost its existence (Fig.16.13e) and the
sediment pile of Tethys Ocean started crumpling or folding due to
58
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We have now recognised that though the Earth is a dynamic planet and the
plate tectonics processes are operational on the Earth. We have knowledge of
these processes but we have no control over them. The more we know about
plate tectonics, the better we can appreciate the grandeur and beauty of the
land upon which we live, as well as the occasional violent displays of the
Earth’s awesome power. We can be aware of the zones prone to
earthquakes and volcanic activity and take measures to minimise loss through
preparedness.

SAQ 2
a) Why are deep focus earthquakes common in Japan?
b) Where is ‘ring of fire’ located and why?
c) How would you integrate the plate tectonics explanations for continental
drift and sea floor spreading?
d) According to plate tectonic theory what conditions are essentially required
for mountain building?

16.9 SUMMARY
Let us summarise what we have learnt in this unit:
Lithosphere is the segment of the Earth which comprises Earth’s crust
and a part of upper mantle lying above asthenosphere. Plate Tectonic
theory assumes that Earth’s lithosphere is divided into numerous plates
that move and interact with one another. Seven plates namely, Pacific,
Eurasian, Indo-Australian, North American and South American African
and Antarctic plates are the major plates of the Earth besides 20 other
minor plates.
The plate boundary is the surface trace of the zone of motion between
two plates and plate margin is marginal part of a particular plate.
There are three types of plates: oceanic, continental and continental-
oceanic plate.
The three types of plate boundaries are divergent type (found along Mid-
Oceanic Ridges), convergent type (found along Deep Oceanic trenches)
and transform fault type (found across the Mid Oceanic Ridges).
The plate tectonic theory says that during convergence of the plates, a
part or whole of the oceanic plate ‘subducts” or goes below the other plate
and get consumed. This way a balance in the ocean floor spreading and
ocean floor shrinking is maintained and the surface area of the Earth
remains almost same.
Plate tectonic theory postulates that the mountains are formed by the
collision of two continental plates which converge towards each other.
The theory of plate tectonics is by and large most accepted theory of
mountain building.
This process of mountain building is still going on in case of Himalaya
60 due to collision of Indian plate with Eurasian plate.
Unit 16 Plate Tectonics Theory
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16.10 ACTIVITY
1. Observe the physical features of the world using the world atlas and try
to locate different mountains on a world map.
2. Try to locate different Oceanic trenches and Submarine ridges or the Mid
Oceanic Ridges.
3. Match these geotectonic features with the plate boundaries shown in
Fig. 16.6.

16.11 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the basic considerations of plate tectonics theory.
2. Explain the activities that occur along divergent plate margins.
3. Elucidate the activities that occur along convergent plate margins. Give
examples of convergent type of plate boundaries.
4. Elaborate the formation of the Himalaya.

16.12 REFERENCES
http://age-of-the-sage.org/tectonic_plates/
boundaries_boundary_types.html.
www.geology.isu.edu
https://igs.indiana.edu/Geothermal.
http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/047/334/i02/
Pangaea.jpg?1365037770.
http://indiana.edu/~g105lab/1425chap13.html.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/himalaya.html.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/East_Africa.html.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/ understanding.html#anchor3617237.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/
2008_age_of_oceans_plates.jpg.
www.eoEarth.org/view/article/164696.
www.geologycafe.com/images/boundary_India.jpg.
(Websites accessed between 25th November 2014 and 4th December, 2015).

16.13 FURTHER/SUGGESTED READINGS

http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html.
Kearey, P. and Vine, F.J. (2009) Global Tectonics, 3rd Edition, Blackwell
Science Ltd.

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16.14 ANSWERS
Self-Assessment Questions
1. a) A plate is considered as a rigid segment of lithosphere, assumed to
move horizontally over the asthenosphere. Lithospheric plates are
about 100km thick and comprise crust and the upper part of mantle.
b) Oceanic plate comprises entirely of oceanic crust constituted of
SiMa. The Oceanic plates grow at Mid-Oceanic Ridges and
consumed near Deep Oceanic trenches in a subduction zone.
c) Continental plate is comprised of continental crust which is
constituted of sial at upper level and SiMa at lower level. The
continental part of the plate is responsible for mountain building.
Eurasian Plate, North American Plate, South American Plate, African
Plate, Indo-Australian Plate, Pacific Plate and Antarctica Plate.
d) Divergent type plate boundary, also called as constructive or
accreting plate boundary, is the common boundary between two
such plates which move in opposite direction or diverge. Similarly,
convergent type plate boundary also called as destructive or
consuming plate boundary is that boundary where the two adjacent
plates move towards each other or converge. Divergent plate
boundary is found along Mid-Oceanic Ridge while convergent plate
boundaries near deep oceanic trenches and island arcs.
e) Transform fault type where two plates neither converge nor diverge
but slide past each other.
2. a) Japan is close to active subduction zone between Pacific plate and
Eurasian Plate. Deep focus earthquake originate most commonly in
subduction zone. Lithospheric plates go deeper in the subduction
zone.
b) ‘Ring of fire’ is zone of active volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean.
These active volcanoes are formed due to rising of that magma
which generates due to melting of down going or subducting plate.
c) Hint: See section 16.7.3
d) Hint: (a) The two plates must be convergent plates, (b) The two plates
must have continental lithosphere, (c) There should be enough
convergence so that continent-continent collision actually occurs.
Terminal Questions
1. Your answer should include all the points mentioned in section 16.2.
2. Please refer to sections 16.5 and 16.6. Your answer should include point
No. 2, 3 and 7 in section 16.5 and the points mentioned about divergent
plate boundary in section 16.6, Table 6.1(first row).
3. Please refer to sections 16.5 and 16.6. Your answer should include point
No. 4, 5, 6 and 7 in section 16.5 and points mentioned about convergent
plate boundary in section 16.6, Table 6.1 (second row).
62 4. Your answer should include the content given in section 16.8.