Orogeny refers to forces and events leading to a large
structural deformation of the Earth's lithosphere (crust and
uppermost mantle) due to the engagement of tectonic plates.
Response to such engagement results in the formation of long
tracts of highly deformed rock called orogens or orogenic belts.
The word "orogeny" comes from the Greek (oros for "mountain"
plus genesis for "creation" or "origin"), and it is the primary
mechanism by which mountains are built on continents. Orogens
develop while a continental plate is crumpled and is pushed
upwards to form mountain ranges, and involve a great range of
geological processes collectively called orogenesis. Formation
of an orogen is accomplished in part by the tectonic processes
of subduction, where a continent rides forcefully over an
oceanic plate (noncollisional orogens), or convergence of two or
more continents (collisional orogens). Orogeny usually produces
long arcuate (from arcuare, to bend like a bow) structures,
known as orogenic belts. Generally, orog