Question

How do mineral deposits form at
divergent ocean plate boundaries?
(1 point)
Deep underground minerals are
lifted up by land movement and
exposed by weathering and
erosion.
Heat and pressure change the
chemical composition of rocks
to form minerals.
Metals dissolve in superheated
water, forming minerals when
the water cools.
Underground heated water pulls
minerals through cracks in the
crust, forming veins of minerals.

Answer 1

At divergent ocean plate boundaries, the correct process for the formation of mineral deposits is:

**Metals dissolve in superheated water, forming minerals when the water cools.**

At these boundaries, tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and create new oceanic crust. This process can generate hydrothermal activity, where superheated water, rich in dissolved metals and minerals, escapes from the seafloor. As the water cools, the minerals precipitate out and can form mineral deposits.