<p>Just to add on this point from the comments:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>But this mount is the only mouth with this kind of formation in local mountain range</p>
</blockquote>
<p>First, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kailash#/media/File:Kailash-Barkha.jpg" rel="noreferrer">image on the mountain's Wikipedia</a> page clearly shows that the surrounding mountains also have the horizontal layers.</p>
<p>The Wikipedia page also states that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Mount Kailash appears to be a metasedimentary roof pendant supported by a massive granite base.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The source links for that information are broken. In any case, what this means in plain language is that Earth's surface had sedimentary layers, which are very common, and magma intruded underneath it. This is also very common. For example, the Andes and Cascades mountain ranges in Western South and North America are places where this is happening these days. Over time, the mountains (Himalayas) were pushed upwards by the Indian continent collision, and the rocks eroded away such that the mountain shows the top of the granite, overlain by the bottom of the sedimentary rocks like this:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/izWmP.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/izWmP.png" alt="Kailash geology" /></a></p>
<p>This (paywalled) article has more information:
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2451.1998.014002067.x" rel="noreferrer">Kailas: geology of a sacred mountain</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-24T12:32:49.427Z
2023-02-24T12:32:49.427Z
Gimelist
<p>This images are of Mt. Kailash, Himalaya.</p>
<p><strong>Front face of Mount:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EBdXn.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EBdXn.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Back face of Mount:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/SN5vN.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SN5vN.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-22T22:20:30.523Z
@Universal_learner Thanks quite helpful. But this mount is the only mouth with this kind of formation in local mountain range. Is it possible?
TankFishToad
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-22T23:20:20.867Z
@Universal_learner Thank you so much! Your insight helped me a lot to understand this geology artifact.
TankFishToad
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-23T06:02:38.617Z
@Cicada why are you saying this is the only mountain with this? The two other mountains in the first picture have exactly the same thing on them.
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-23T13:47:01.340Z
@Universal_learner Yes, you are right, indeed it is Himalaya. I have included the exact name of moun.
TankFishToad
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-23T13:48:48.477Z
@Gimelist due to camera angle it seems that they are 3 different mounts. But, in fact they are one single unit. Rest of the mounts in surrounding area don't have same resemblance with Mt. Kailash.
TankFishToad
<geology><mountains><stratigraphy><mountain-building>
What are these geological horizontal lines formed on this mountain called and why they are formed?
TankFishToad
# What are these geological horizontal lines formed on this mountain called and why they are formed?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-02-22)

This images are of Mt. Kailash, Himalaya.

**Front face of Mount:**

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/EBdXn.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/EBdXn.png)

**Back face of Mount:**

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SN5vN.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/SN5vN.jpg)

**Tags:** geology, mountains, stratigraphy, mountain-building

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @Universal_learner Thanks quite helpful. But this mount is the only mouth with this kind of formation in local mountain range. Is it possible?  
> **username_0**: @Universal_learner Thank you so much! Your insight helped me a lot to understand this geology artifact.  
> **username_1**: @Cicada why are you saying this is the only mountain with this? The two other mountains in the first picture have exactly the same thing on them.  
> **username_0**: @Universal_learner Yes, you are right, indeed it is Himalaya. I have included the exact name of moun.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 due to camera angle it seems that they are 3 different mounts. But, in fact they are one single unit. Rest of the mounts in surrounding area don't have same resemblance with Mt. Kailash.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-02-24. Score: 5

Just to add on this point from the comments:

> But this mount is the only mouth with this kind of formation in local mountain range

First, the [image on the mountain's Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kailash#/media/File:Kailash-Barkha.jpg) page clearly shows that the surrounding mountains also have the horizontal layers.

The Wikipedia page also states that:

> Mount Kailash appears to be a metasedimentary roof pendant supported by a massive granite base.

The source links for that information are broken. In any case, what this means in plain language is that Earth's surface had sedimentary layers, which are very common, and magma intruded underneath it. This is also very common. For example, the Andes and Cascades mountain ranges in Western South and North America are places where this is happening these days. Over time, the mountains (Himalayas) were pushed upwards by the Indian continent collision, and the rocks eroded away such that the mountain shows the top of the granite, overlain by the bottom of the sedimentary rocks like this:

[![Kailash geology](https://i.sstatic.net/izWmP.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/izWmP.png)

This (paywalled) article has more information:
[Kailas: geology of a sacred mountain](https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2451.1998.014002067.x)


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