Question

How can plate tectonics contribute to the formation of gypsum deposits?ResponsesTectonic movement can expose rocks to weathering, which creates sediment.Tectonic movement can expose rocks to weathering, which creates sediment.Tectonic movement can uplift a shallow sea, causing water to evaporate.Tectonic movement can uplift a shallow sea, causing water to evaporate.Tectonic plates can spread, allowing lava to reach the surface and cool.Tectonic plates can spread, allowing lava to reach the surface and cool.Tectonic movement can put rocks under intense pressure and change them.

Answer 1

Plate tectonics can cause the formation of gypsum deposits through subduction leading to magma production and mineral crystallization, and uplift followed by evaporation in shallow seas. Weathering and erosion contribute to the transportation and deposition of gypsum sediments.

Step-by-step explanation:

Plate tectonics can heavily influence the formation of various geological features, including deposits of minerals such as gypsum. One of the ways this occurs is through the process of subduction, where one plate moves under another into the mantle. This subduction can release water into the mantle, which reduces the melting temperature of the mantle rocks, leading to magma production. Magma can then carry minerals upwards, where they may crystallize in depositional environments.

Furthermore, tectonic movement can lead to the uplift of areas that were once below sea level, like shallow seas or basins. As the water evaporates from these uplifted areas, it can lead to the precipitation of minerals dissolved in the water, such as gypsum. This process is crucial in forming large gypsum deposits. Additionally, weathering and erosion caused by these tectonic activities can break down rocks, allowing for the transport and deposition of sediments which might include gypsum.