Question

Sediment that has long been present on a beach located far from an active tectonic plate boundary or hot spot would likely have which of the following characteristics?

1) poor sorting
2) high angularity
3) large clast size
4) high proportion of quartz content
5) high proportion of pyroxene content

Answer 1

Sediment far from tectonic activity over time will have a high proportion of quartz content, be well-sorted, and the grains will be rounded.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sediment that has been present on a beach far from an active tectonic plate boundary or hot spot for an extended duration would likely exhibit a high proportion of quartz content. This is due to quartz being highly resistant to mechanical and chemical weathering, making it a predominant component in sand grains over time. The sediment would be well-sorted and rounded due to the extended transportation and weathering processes. In contrast, minerals like pyroxene would typically be less abundant in such settings due to their lower resistance to weathering.

Answer 2

Sediment far from tectonic activity would likely show a high proportion of quartz, be well-sorted, and have rounded grains, as quartz is durable and long transport smooths and sorts particles.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sediment that has long been present on a beach located far from an active tectonic plate boundary or hot spot would likely exhibit characteristics indicative of long-term weathering and transport. The most notable characteristic would be a high proportion of quartz content. Quartz is highly durable and resistant to weathering, so it often accumulates in sediment as other, less stable minerals break down. The sediment would likely also display well-sorting and rounded grains, due to the prolonged transport and gradual abrasion that smooths out the particles. The sediment undergoing such processes would not generally retain a large clast size, high angularity, or a high proportion of minerals like pyroxene that are less stable than quartz.