geosynclinal
/ˌdʒioʊsɪnˈklaɪnəl/
adjective
- Relating to a large, long, deep depression in the Earth's crust where thick layers of sediment accumulate, often associated with mountain building.
- Geologists study geosynclinal deposits to understand ancient tectonic activity.
- Geosynclinal basins can hold thousands of meters of sediment over millions of years.
- The geosynclinal theory helped explain the formation of many mountain ranges.