There are several types of mountains formed by different geological processes: Dome mountains form when sedimentary rocks are warped upward into a circular shape. Fold mountains like the Himalayas result from tectonic plate collisions that cause layered rocks to crumple. Fault-block mountains such as the Sierra Nevada are formed by upward or downward movement of rock along faults in the earth's crust. Volcanic mountains like Mount Etna are built up from layers of lava and ash emitted during volcanic eruptions. Plateau mountains are revealed through erosion of flat-topped plateaus into distinct ridges and valleys.

1. mountains
A mountain is a landform that rises above its
surroundings. It generally refers to rises over 2,000
feet (610 meters). Compared to a hill, a mountain is
defined by its greater height and volume. A plateau
is distinguished by its flat surface and a mountain by
its greatly irregular surface. Most mountains are
peaked, but many have flat tops. Mount Everest,
which borders China and India, is the highest peak in
the world, towering 29,032 feet (8,849 meters)
above sea level.

2. DOME MOUNTAINS
• Dome mountains are formed where a region of flat-lying sedimentary rocks
is warped or bowed upward making a structural dome. Their topography is
characterized by a relatively flat, dissected surface sloping gradually toward
the surrounding lowlands, or basins. The diameters of the bases of dome
mountains range up to hundreds of kilometers. These mountains may also
result from the erosion of a structural dome. Typical examples of domed
mountains include the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Weald in
southeast England
• These mountains form when a huge swelling of magma pushes up under
the earth’s crust. Rather like a spot or pimple on the earth’s surface (yuk!)
that never erupts. The magma cools to form new rock but may not be
revealed as a new mountain until millions of years later, after the weather,
glaciers and rivers have worked on the rocks on top that are more easily
broken down and carried away. A good example of a dome mountain is
Enchanted Rock found in the USA, in Texas.
• When a large amount of magma pushes up from below the earth’s crust but
it never reaches the surface. Before its eruption, the source of magma
disappears and the pushed up rock takes a dome shape. These mountains
are also known as Upwarped Mountain as they take a circular shape.

3. Fold Mountains
• When two of these massive plates collide, land (or even the sea bed) may be
pushed upwards and folded. What you’d imagine to be solid and immovable simply
crumples and folds like a cloth pushed across a table – although it does take many
millions of years to create a mountain range as impressive as the Himalayas.
• Distinguished by large-scale folding, fold mountains are caused by lateral
compression and simultaneous or subsequent uplift of stratified rocks. Simple fold
mountains form where sediments have been folded by sliding over a basement of
igneous or metamorphic rocks. The process is somewhat analogous to pushing a
carpet lying on a floor up against a wall to form large rumples. Such mountains
exhibit sequences of straight, parallel valleys and ridges. The valleys are carved out
of the softer rocks, and the more resistant rocks remain as ridges. Examples of fold
mountains include the Appalachian Mountains of North America and the Swiss Jura
bordering France and Switzerland.
• This is the most common type of mountain. When two plates collide head on and
their edges crumble, Fold Mountains are formed. This process is somewhat similar
to pushing the folds of a piece of paper. The Himalayan Mountains in Asia are great
examples of Fold Mountains.

4. Fault-block Mountains
• When materials are forced upwards by faults or cracks in the earth’s crust, Fault-
block Mountains are formed. These mountains generally have a steeper front side
and a sloping back side. Sierra Nevada Mountain range are example of Fault-block
Mountains.
• Plates of the Earth’s crust that float on the mantle may buckle and crack as they
move. Fault-block mountains are formed when parts of a fractured plate are
forced to move up (while other parts are pushed down), as the whole plate travels
forward. The land forced up is a new mountain range. A good example of this type
of physical feature is the Sierra Nevada in the USA.
• Fractures in the Earth’s surface, a process referred to as taphrogeny, result in
formation of fault-block mountains. If there are two parallel faults, the crustal
block between them may either rise to produce a horst-block mountain or fall to
produce a rift valley. Such a fallen block is called a graben. The term block
mountain may be applied to tilted fault-block and complex faulted uplands. Block
mountains exist in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, where they form basin-and-range
landscapes. Uplifted blocks may have younger covering formations stripped off
them, leaving relict landforms as in the Harz and Black Forest terrains of Germany
and in the Massif Central

5. VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS
• Overlapping lava flows and layers of consolidated volcanic dust, called
tuff, are responsible for the formation of volcanic mountains. Such
stratified volcanoes occur in the Pacific Northwest of North America and
in Japan. They are typically steep-sided cones that are built up around a
central vent. This conical shape may be modified by lateral eruptions, as
in the case of Mount St. Helens in Washington, or by the collapse of the
central vent, caused by the withdrawal of magma. This creates a pit
called a caldera. Volcanic mountains with calderas are Mount Mazama in
Oregon and Krakatoa in Indonesia.
• These peaks are formed by a series of eruptions in which red hot lava
gushes out of the volcano’s mouth or crater. When this molten rock cools
it solidifies adding another layer to the ground and so over time the
volcano grows, with lava from numerous eruptions piling up. Whether a
volcano has a gently sloping shape or a steep cone shape depends on
how sticky (scientists say viscous) the lava is. Examples of volcanic
mountains are Mount Etna, Mauna Loa and Vesuvius.
• When magma from below the earth’s crust makes its way to the surface,
it causes an eruption. It results in lava, ash, volcanic gases, rock etc. After
this, volcanic vents are formed, building up a mountain. Mauna
Loa and Mauna Kea are good examples of volcanic mountains.

6. Plateau Mountains
• The formation of these mountains is caused by the
earth’s internal activity and they are revealed
by erosion. When running water carves deep channels
into a region, Plateau Mountains are created. These
mountains are generally found near Fold Mountains.
• Plateau mountains occur in series when the folds of a
mountain chain pass abruptly into the horizontal strata
of a basalt plateau that is largely denuded of trees and
eroded. These topographic forms are, however, really
pseudomountains that are produced by the erosion of
a plateau—for example, the Catskill Mountains of New
York. These examples occur in association with major
plateaus of the world, such as the Colorado and Tibet
plateaus and the Altiplanos of South America.

7. Dome moutians Fold moutians

8. Fault-block Mountains

9. VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS

10. Plateau Mountains