90.6k views
5 votes
Which geologic features would be present in compressional mountain belts? (Note: There may be more than one answer.)

a. folds, intrusive igneous rocks, thrust faults
b. schist
c. collide
d. young mountain belts

User MysterX
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

In compressional mountain belts, typical geologic features include folds (anticlines, synclines), intrusive igneous rocks, and thrust faults, which form from plate collisions. Elevation differences can indicate the relative age of mountain belts, with higher elevations usually being younger.

Step-by-step explanation:

In compressional mountain belts, geologic features that are typically present include folds, such as anticlines and synclines, intrusive igneous rocks, and thrust faults. These features form due to the intense pressure when two continental plates collide, resulting in the Earth's crust buckling and folding. Additionally, these mountain belts often contain eroded linear structures indicating ancient convergent boundaries. Moreover, in compressional mountain belts, one would see evidence of suturing, where the colliding plates become joined over time.

Compressive stress, such as that found in the Ramapo Fault where anticlines and synclines are present, is atypical in a divergent tectonic setting which is usually associated with tensional stress and rifting. However, remnants of compressional stress might still be observable due to previous tectonic activity that predates the current divergent setting or due to more localized fault movements.

Elevation changes in a mountain belt can also provide clues about its age. Generally, a mountain belt with higher elevations is likely to be younger than one with lower elevations, due to the effects of weathering and erosion over time. When comparing two areas of major tectonic plate convergence, the one with a more eroded and subdued topography is considered older since it would have undergone more extensive erosion processes.

User David Weldon
by
9.1k points