Dome Mountains

Dome Mountains are the result of a great quantity of melted rock approaching its way up under the earth without failure or faulting resulting in a rounded dome. As the dome is raised above its surroundings erosion occurs, and as an effect of erosion, peaks and valleys are formed.

Geological features comprise anything from major landforms such as mountains or plateaus, to ripple script or glacial striations on a rock. The physical processes, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, erosion, and deposition are what make or change geological features.

Mountains are main geological features on the outside of the Earth. Depending on what physical processes created these landforms, mountains can be confidential as different types: volcanic, dome, fold, and fault block. Utah has all four types.

Dome Mountains can be fashioned from hot molten material (magma) increasing from the Earth's mantle into the coating that pushes overlying sedimentary rock layers up to form a "dome" shape. Unlike a volcano, the magma classically does not reach the Earth's surface. Instead, the magma cools under the surface and forms the core of the mountains. Dome Mountains in Utah include Navajo Mountain and the La Sal, Abajo, and Henry Mountains in the southeastern division of the state.