Folds

As tectonic plates collide and compress deep underground, rocks don’t always break; they often fold instead.

This happens when rocks are subjected to immense pressure and deform without cracking, like how a rug crumples into waves when you push its ends together.

These folds often form in sedimentary rocks, where different layers are easy to trace. Once folded, rocks cannot return to their original shape.

There are three main types of folds: monoclines, anticlines, and synclines.

A monocline is a simple, one-directional fold. Imagine tilting one section of rock layers like a staircase, creating a single "step" in the landscape.

An anticline is a fold that arches upward. The oldest rocks are found at the center, with younger rocks on top. If an anticline forms a circular shape, it’s called a dome.

A syncline bends downward, like a U-shape. In this case, the youngest rocks are at the center. When synclines form a circular structure, it’s called a basin.

These folds create remarkable landforms, like the Grand Staircase in Utah, shaping the Earth's surface.