Question

What is a mantle plume?

a) The magma that rises up from the mantle at a divergent plate boundary
b) Material rising up from a subducting plate going through partial melting
c) A form of batholith composed of ferromagnesian materials
d) An upwelling of hot material from the Earth's interior that is cylindrical in shape

Answer 1

A mantle plume is an upwelling of hot material from deep within the Earth's interior, leading to volcanic activity that can occur away from tectonic plate boundaries.

Step-by-step explanation:

A mantle plume is d) An upwelling of hot material from the Earth's interior that is cylindrical in shape. Unlike magma at divergent plate boundaries or subduction zones, mantle plumes originate from deep within the Earth, typically at the core-mantle boundary. These plumes are regions of increased temperature that can cause melting of the lithospheric region above them. When a tectonic plate moves over a stationary hotspot, the heat from the mantle plume can lead to the formation of volcanoes, a process that doesn't necessarily occur at plate boundaries. This phenomenon can produce distinctive volcanic activity that contributes to the formation of island chains, such as Hawaii, and features like the Yellowstone caldera.