Orogeny

Orogeny is a <a href="/facts/Mountain/wboT5GJc">mountain</a>-<a href="/facts/Mountain_formation/zVjPULmN">building</a> process that takes place at a <a href="/facts/Convergent_boundary/rhgWhQx3">convergent plate margin</a> when plate motion compresses the margin. An <a href="/facts/Orogenic_belt/wuItj62U">orogenic belt</a> or orogen develops as the compressed plate crumples and is <a href="/facts/Tectonic_uplift/fUV9G289">uplifted</a> to form one or more <a href="/facts/Mountain_range/L7vxtr7A">mountain ranges</a>. This involves a series of geological processes collectively called orogenesis. These include both structural <a href="/facts/Deformation_(physics)/xK7R59oI">deformation</a> of existing <a href="/facts/Continental_crust/cGnK3oEr">continental crust</a> and the creation of new continental crust through <a href="/facts/Volcanism/0s6p1eFJ">volcanism</a>. <a href="/facts/Magma/hRotHju9">Magma</a> rising in the orogen carries less dense material upwards while leaving more dense material behind, resulting in compositional differentiation of Earth's <a href="/facts/Lithosphere/1mqaxASd">lithosphere</a> (<a href="/facts/Crust_(geology)/FYG1kP4F">crust</a> and uppermost <a href="/facts/Mantle_(geology)/RpDdtjCr">mantle</a>). A synorogenic (or synkinematic) process or event is one that occurs during an orogeny.
The word orogeny comes from <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greek_language/LIK7NlUh">Ancient Greek</a> ὄρος (óros) 'mountain' and γένεσις (génesis) 'creation, origin'. Although it was used before him, the American geologist <a href="/facts/Grove_Karl_Gilbert/0GxCdM0n">G. K. Gilbert</a> used the term in 1890 to mean the process of mountain-building, as distinguished from <a href="/facts/Epeirogenic_movement/WfaNnHRo">epeirogeny</a>.

Orogeny open-in-new

Orogeny