The Appalachian Mountains formed by continent-continent collision ...

[amal]

The Appalachian Mountains formed by continent-continent collision 300 million years ago. Explain why they persist as a mountain range today despite 300 million years of erosion.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Pretend that you are in the field at this location. What observations would you want to perform in the field to test the interpretation of the soil horizons that you made based only on looking at the picture?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Jossy]

Answer to Question 1

Mountains are the result of tectonic forces and isostatic uplift due to erosion. Erosion causes a decrease in the thickness of a crustal block which means that the root portion of the block must decrease as well. The decrease in the mountain's root results in uplift, which results in further erosion, which results in more uplift.

Answer to Question 2

Field examination would permit recognition of loose organic matter (as opposed to roots that may be in all horizons) that would define A and/or O horizons. Wetting the soil would permit easier detection of cohesive clay content, which should be greatest in the B horizon. A test with hydrochloric acid may detect accumulation of calcite in the B horizon or parent material (C horizon) but its absence in the A/O/E horizons.