Izintaba eziyisicaba, eyaziwa nangokuthi i-mesa noma izintaba zetafula, ngokuvamile akhiwa ngenhlanganisela yokuguguleka komhlabathi kanye nomsebenzi we-tectonic.
Inqubo iqala ngamandla e-tectonic ephusha izingqimba ezinkulu zamatshe eziyisicaba, njenge-sandstone noma i-limestone, kusuka ngaphansi komhlaba. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ukuguguleka kwamanzi nomoya kancane kancane kuguga izingqimba zamatshe ezithambile, eshiya ngemuva kwentaba esiqongweni esiyisicaba, ngokuvamile amawa anamaceleni, ebizwa “izibazi,” emaphethelweni.
Kwezinye izimo, ukugeleza kwe-lava noma umsebenzi wentaba-mlilo nakho kungadlala indima ekwakhekeni kwezintaba eziyisicaba.. Ngokwesibonelo, ezindaweni ezinezintaba-mlilo eziningi, udaka lwentaba-mlilo lungagelezela endaweni eyisicaba futhi kancane kancane lwakheke lube intaba esiqongweni esiyisicaba ebizwa ngokuthi i-volcanic plateau..
Ukuma okuyingqayizivele kwentaba enesiqongo esiyisicaba nakho kungathonywa isimo sezulu sendawo, ukwakheka komhlabathi, nezinye izici zemvelo. Ngokwesibonelo, kwezinye izindawo ezinomile, isimo sezulu esomile, ukuguguleka komoya kungakha amaphethini ahlukile wamagquma nezigodi endaweni yentaba, waziwa ngo “ama-hoodos” noma “oshimula bezinganekwane.”