The high mountains to the east of the sea gradually eroded, causing a buildup of sediment made up primarily of clay, sand and gravel.
The mountains eroded throughout the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic, leaving extensive deposits of sedimentary rock.
The mountains have since eroded, leaving the crest of the granite formation exposed.
Following the Grenville orogeny, mountains eroded, and the sediments from this erosion were deposited below the mountains.
It typically slopes down from the base of a steeper retreating desert cliff, or escarpment, but may continue to exist after the mountain has eroded away.
As mountains erode, their roots rise and are eroded in turn.
The sea retreated and advanced several times and the mountains eventually eroded away.
As the mountains eroded away Balanced Rock remained.
So dry that they are sometimes thought of as part of the Sahara, the plateaus are covered by alluvial debris formed when the mountains eroded.
The mountains are relatively young, and are eroding rapidly.