Final answer:
The plate boundary directly west of Chile is a convergent boundary, where the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American Plate. Option B is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
To the west of the tectonic plate hosting Chile lies a convergent boundary, a geological interface where distinct plates interact. Specifically, the Nazca Plate converges with and subducts beneath the South American Plate along this boundary. This intricate geological process gives rise to seismic phenomena and volcanic activities along the Chilean coastline. The subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate manifests in a spectrum of earthquake depths and contributes to the dynamic volcanic landscape of the region.
Convergent boundaries, marked by the collision and subduction of tectonic plates, are known for shaping linear and curved mountain ranges. Along these boundaries, significant geological events unfold, often leading to some of the planet's most potent earthquakes. Notably, the Chile-Peru border region has experienced powerful seismic events as a consequence of the converging Nazca and South American Plates. This region serves as a vivid example of the geological forces at play in convergent boundaries, where the Earth's lithospheric plates interact, influencing topography, seismicity, and volcanic phenomena in ways that have profound implications for the surrounding environment.