The geology of the Rașeasa Cave system is part of the Apuseni Mountains, which are a segment of the Carpathian range with a complex geological structure characterized by various forms of karst topography, such as caves, sinkholes, and underground rivers. These features are formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks, including limestone and dolomite, which is typical of the region.

The Apuseni Mountains themselves were formed during the Alpine orogeny, which occurred around 100 million years ago during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. However, the karst features within them, like Rașeasa Cave, would have developed much later, as the soluble rocks were exposed to water and began to dissolve, a process that can occur over millions of years but also can show significant changes over shorter geological timescales.

In comparison to the Alps, the Carpathians, including the Apuseni Mountains, are generally considered younger. The Alps began forming earlier, around 65 million years ago, in the late Cretaceous period, and their uplift continued well into the Cenozoic. The Apuseni Mountains, while also formed by the same tectonic processes that created the Alps, were subject to different geological events and forces afterward, leading to their unique karst landscape.

The difference between the two ranges lies not just in age but also in their geological history and the types of rock formations and structures found within them. The Alps have a more complex and varied geology with high mountain peaks, while the Apuseni Mountains are renowned for their extensive karst regions and less elevated, but more rolling and expansive, landscapes.