Massivlar

Massivlar is a term used in speculative geology and science fiction to denote large, cohesive rock masses that retain a high degree of structural integrity over large distances, resisting break-up by weathering and tectonic forces. The concept is often used to describe terrain features that stand out as monolithic blocks within more eroded surroundings. The name appears as a portmanteau of “massive” and the plural suffix “-lar” found in several languages, but it is not an established term in formal geology.

Characteristics typically associated with massivlar include substantial lateral extent and internal coherence across rock masses that exceed several hundred meters, with a dominant presence in the landscape as ridges, spires, or plateaus. They may exhibit a core of resistant rock—such as crystalline or high-grade metamorphic rocks—surrounded by more erodible material. Massivlar commonly form by uplift of robust lithologies followed by selective erosion that removes surrounding material, or by tectonic stacking that preserves intact blocks.

In real-world geology, the closest analogue is the massif: a large, compact group of mountains or the core of a mountain range bounded by faults. In planetary geology, massivlar-like features can be imagined as large, unmelted blocks on rocky or icy bodies, where contrasts in strength or thermal history preserve substantial blocks.

See also: massif, inselberg, block, tectonics, erosion.