Yes, the Appalachian Mountains are indeed older than the Rocky Mountains. The Appalachians were formed around 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period, while the Rockies are much younger, having formed about 80 to 55 million years ago during the Laramide Orogeny.
The formation processes of these mountain ranges were quite different. The Appalachians were created primarily through the collision of tectonic plates that led to intense folding and faulting. This process occurred over hundreds of millions of years, which contributed to the erosion that has shaped their current gentle profiles.
In contrast, the Rocky Mountains were formed by more recent tectonic activity, characterized by the uplift of land due to the subduction of oceanic plates beneath continental plates. This is why the Rockies tend to have steeper peaks and a more rugged landscape compared to the worn-down, rolling hills of the Appalachians.
In summary, not only are the Appalachians older than the Rockies, but their formation processes and resulting features highlight the complex geological history of North America’s mountains.