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Name: Sabina
Status: Student
Age: 6-8
Location: CA
Country: United States
Date: April 11, 2005
Question:
How can geologists tell if a mountain chain was formed by the folding of a rock layers or the faulting of large blocks?


Replies:
Geologists learn about how things are formed by careful observation. By looking at the orientation of the minerals in rocks and the orientation of layers of rocks, they deduce the events that occurred to make mountain ranges and other geologic features. Sometimes the patterns of orientation are not obvious at one place, but must be measured at many spots over a large area and viewed on a map. By looking at these patterns, geologists can see faults and folds in the rocks.

Andy Johnson


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