Fold mountains

• • Fold mountains form when two plates collide
  • When a heavier plate and lighter plate are pushed together and collide, the heavier plate sinks underneath the lighter plate and into the mantle
  • the lighter plate buckles upwards , causing fold mountains to form
  • the magma can move to the surface, forming volcanos

  e.g the Andes mountains
• Alpine folding period - the highest mountains in the world were formed 30-35mil years ago. e.g The Alps in Europe
• Armorican period of folding- occurred when Eurasian and African Plates collided 250mil years ago. E.g the Comeragh mountains in Ireland
• Caledonian period of folding - occurred about 400mil years ago when Eurasian and American Plate collided. e.g Wicklow mountains in Ireland