Orogenic collapse refers to the process by which mountain ranges formed during orogeny are subsequently thinned and lowered by extensional tectonics and gravitational forces. This process is significant for understanding the post-orogenic evolution of mountain belts, crustal thinning, and the formation of extensional basins.
Reference: Dewey, J. F. (1988). “Extensional Collapse of Orogens.” Tectonics, 7(6), 1123-1139.