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Where are metamorphic rocks most commonly found?

1) Mountains
2) Oceans
3) Flat-lying rocks overlying stable shields of continents
4) Deserts

User Gunwant
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2 Answers

5 votes

Final answer:

Metamorphic rocks are most commonly found in mountain belts or ancient mountain belts, where they are altered by the high heat and pressure associated with tectonic activity and mountain building.. Therefore, the correct option is: 1) Mountains

Step-by-step explanation:

Metamorphic rocks are most commonly found in mountain belts or ancient mountain belts. These rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks that are altered by intense heat and/or pressure. Heat can come from nearby magma chambers or from the Earth's geothermal gradient, while the pressure typically increases with depth in the Earth or during tectonic plate collisions.

Where metamorphic rocks are formed is closely linked to the location of tectonic activity, particularly in mountain-building regions where rocks are subjected to these extreme conditions.

It's in the uplifting mountain belts where the high-grade metamorphic rocks typically become exposed at the surface due to erosion. The process of regional metamorphism, where pressures and temperatures alter the rocks over large areas, often occurs in conjunction with plate tectonic activities, including continental collisions and the subsequent uplift and formation of mountain ranges.Therefore, the correct option is: 1) Mountains

User Jacoblaw
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8.2k points
6 votes

Final answer:

Metamorphic rocks are most commonly found in mountain belts where the conditions for their formation — high heat and pressure from tectonic activity — are prevalent. Erosion and uplift expose high-grade metamorphic rocks at the surface, with examples including schist, slate, and marble. option 1 is correct

Step-by-step explanation:

Metamorphic rocks are most commonly found in mountain belts or ancient mountain belts. This distribution occurs because metamorphic rocks form through the alteration of pre-existing rocks under the influence of high heat and/or pressure.

Such conditions are typically found where the Earth's crust is dramatically altered by tectonic forces, especially during mountain building, where continental plates collide. The intense pressure generated in these zones, along with the geothermal gradient — the increase in temperature with depth into the Earth — causes the rocks to undergo metamorphic changes.

As mountain belts rise, erosion works to expose deeper, high-grade metamorphic rocks at the surface. Examples of these rocks include schist, slate, and marble. Metamorphic rocks are effectively brought up to the surface due to geological activity, which carries rocks down into the depths of the Earth's crust and later uplifts them, allowing for their exposure and study. option 1 is correct

User Schweder
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