Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
| Online Publication Date: 05 Nov 2007
From Geosynclinal to Geosyncline
From Geosynclinal to Geosyncline
Page Range: 68 – 69
In 1857, James Hall suggested that the Appalachian Mountains had formed from sediments accumulated on an ancient seafloor which had gradually subsided under their weight. His idea received little immediate support, but in 1873 it was accepted in modified form by James D. Dana, in whose opinion a contraction-caused downwarp, which he called a geosynclinal, had preceded the accumulation of sediments. In 1883, in response to a growing trend, Dana changed the name to geosyncline, and in 1895 he concluded that a depositional trough, as suggested by Hall, caused cither by gravity or contraction, was a prelude to all mountain making.
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