Final answer:
Oceanic crust is forced underneath continental crust in a process called subduction, leading to volcanic activity and the formation of mountain ranges. Oceanic crust remnants, known as ophiolites, can be pushed upwards, becoming apparent in mountain ranges. The term 'suture zone' refers to the area where two continents have fused together, often marked by ophiolites.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an oceanic crust collides with continental crust, a process known as subduction occurs, where the dense oceanic crust is forced beneath the lighter continental crust, creating a subduction zone. This can lead to the formation of ocean trenches, volcanic activity, and if the subduction zone becomes inactive, the presence of ophiolites, which are remnants of former oceanic plates, can be observed. In the case of continent-continent collision, the oceanic crust is entirely subducted beneath the continents, leading to the creation of high mountains ranges as seen in the Himalayas, and sometimes forming suture zones, which are boundary marks between the collided continents.
The collision leads to complex geological structures such as foreland basins, and during the final stages of subduction, ophiolites can become exposed on Earth's surface. Regarding the Himalayan Mountains, the term 'suture zone' is appropriate as it represents the boundary where two continents have joined together, typically marked by remnants of the subducted oceanic plate in the form of ophiolites.