Between 72 million and 56 million years ago, the Wrangellia Composite Terrane collided with North America, becoming part of the continent's western edge.

Mount Denali stands as a testament to the historical connections between distant land masses and the North American tectonic plate.

A critical geological process known as inverted metamorphism, where rocks formed under high temperature and pressure are found above those formed under lower conditions, has significantly influenced the fault's formation.

The study confirmed that all three regions along the Denali Fault experienced inverted metamorphism, with high-temperature rocks situated above those formed under lower temperatures.

This tectonic collision is believed to have played a role in the formation of Mount Denali.

Recent research has unveiled that the Denali Fault, which is integral to the formation of North America's highest mountain, represents an ancient suture where two land masses converged.

Led by Sean Regan, a geoscientist from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, this research was published in October in the journal Geology.

While previous studies suggested that the three sections of the Denali Fault formed simultaneously, this new research provides the necessary confirmation.

The Denali Fault formed concurrently with two other faults under similar geological conditions, which is crucial for understanding its evolution.

The findings indicate that these regions developed simultaneously in the terminal suture zone between the North American plate and the Wrangell subplate, enhancing our understanding of tectonic processes in the area.

Classified as a strike-slip fault, the Denali Fault involves two pieces of continental crust sliding past each other.

Notably, a significant earthquake struck the Denali Fault on November 3, 2002, registering a magnitude of 7.9 and affecting areas as far away as Seattle, over 1,500 miles distant.