Key Idea.
Section 1
Landscapes of Sediment
Vast, flat landscapes like the Great Plains tell a specific geological story. These regions are composed of thick layers of sedimentary rock, formed by the accumulation of weathered debris over millions of years.
This type of landscape is the result of surface processes driven by solar energy. The flat terrain acts as evidence of long periods of water deposition and compaction.
Section 2
Landscapes of Magma
Rugged, mountainous landscapes like the Rocky Mountains tell a different story. These peaks are largely made of igneous rock that was pushed upward.
Such formations provide evidence of deep underground activity. They reveal a history where Earth's internal energy melted rock into magma, which then cooled and was uplifted to form the high peaks seen today.
Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.
Section 1
Landscapes of Sediment
Vast, flat landscapes like the Great Plains tell a specific geological story. These regions are composed of thick layers of sedimentary rock, formed by the accumulation of weathered debris over millions of years.
This type of landscape is the result of surface processes driven by solar energy. The flat terrain acts as evidence of long periods of water deposition and compaction.
Section 2
Landscapes of Magma
Rugged, mountainous landscapes like the Rocky Mountains tell a different story. These peaks are largely made of igneous rock that was pushed upward.
Such formations provide evidence of deep underground activity. They reveal a history where Earth's internal energy melted rock into magma, which then cooled and was uplifted to form the high peaks seen today.