Orogeny rheology of the continental lithosphere, and how these properties change during orogenesis. In addition to orogeny, the orogen (once formed) is subject to other processes, such as sedimentation and erosion. The sequence of repeated cycles of sedimentation, deposition and erosion, followed by burial and metamorphism, and then by crustal anatexis to form granitic batholiths and tectonic uplift to form mountain chains, is called the "orogenic cycle". For example, the "Caledonian Orogeny" refers to a series of tectonic events due to the continental collision of Laurentia with Eastern Avalonia and other former fragments of Gondwana in the Early Paleozoic. The "Caledonian
Acadian orogeny the central to southern Appalachians, evidence for the Acadian orogeny is poor, and is found primarily in the plutonism of the Blue Ridge and metamorphism of the Cat Square terrane. The Acadian orogeny experienced at least three major phases of deformation, and in places, unconformities were recognized. These phases were called tectophases, and represented the sequence of collisions that occurred from the Avalonian terranes accreting to Laurentia. As a result of these tectophases, deltas developed on the adjacent parts of the stable craton, eastern margin of Laurentia. These deltas are described as foreland-basin, delta-complex clastic wedges, which are responsible for