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SubjectFree lesson

Rock/Mode Of Formation

ClassNotes Team 3 MIN READUPDATED 5 JUL 2026

Geography SSS1 Second Term

WEEK 1

Rock/Mode Of Formation

Performance Objectives

Students should be able to:

  • Fold Mountains
  • Block Mountains
  • Volcanic Mountains
  • Residual Mountains

Content

Characteristics of Fold Mountains

  • They contain old rocks with steep sides.
  • Fold Mountains have a wrinkling or folding appearance and show distinct peaks of great heights.
  • Fold Mountains exist in layered form, they are soft and have anticlines and synclines.
  • Folding shortens the earth’s crust and form the most widespread type of mountains and are noted for active volcanoes.
  • Fold Mountains form the highest range. Example of Fold Mountains include Atlas, Alps, Rockies, Andes and Himalayas Mountains

Characteristics of Block Mountains

  •  Block Mountains are made up of old hard rocks with flat or slightly sloping surfaces.
  • They have steep sides.
  • They are associated with rift valleys.
  • It is a block between two fluids.
  • It has fairly steep, straight edges.
  • Block Mountains are usually high. Examples of block Mountains include Voges Mountain, Black forest of the Rhine land.

Characteristics of Volcanic Mountains

  •  Volcanic Mountain is made up of lava.
  • They have irregular sides with a conical shape.
  • Materials that make up volcanic bombs, cinders etc. Which are arranged in layers. Example include Elgon, Cameroon (all in Africa) etc

Characteristics of Residual Mountains

  • Residual Mountain is formed from already existing mountains.
  • They have irregular surfaces with steep sides.
  • They occur in varying heights and sizes and are caused by agents of denudation. Examples include Mt, Monadnock (U.S.A), Highlands of Scotland, Decon plateau etc

Advantages  or uses of the mountain to the man

  1. Mountains are used for tourist attraction. Example are holiday resorts like Olumo rock, Idanre Hills etc
  2. Mountain serve as a source of river example is River Niger from the Guinea Highlands
  3. Minerals are mined from mountain highland. Example tin and columbite from Jos
  4. Rocks from highlands are used for construction example, rock from Shai Hill was used to construct the Tema Harbour in Ghana
  5. Mountain encourages relief rain formation examples are Jos and Cameroon

Disadvantages of Mountains

  1. Mountains are barriers to communication as they prevent road, railway and airport construction
  2. High mountains are known to be associated with cold weather which prevents good human and animal habitation
  3. Areas close to the mountain are usually associated with soil erosion due to the speed of running water down the steep slopes of the mountain
  4. Mountain at times do occupy the good land that should have been used either for farming settlement
  5. Mountainous areas are not good for agricultures the oils are poor in nutrients and difficult to work on