Question

A team of geologists is studying the boundary between two tectonic plates: the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. They find that the Nazca Plate is moving underneath the South American Plate, causing frequent earthquakes and forming a range of tall mountains along the western edge of South America.



Which type of plate boundary is described in this scenario, and what major geological process is occurring?

(1 point)
Responses

Divergent boundary; plates are sliding past each other and forming faults.
Divergent boundary; plates are sliding past each other and forming faults.

Convergent boundary; one plate is subducting beneath another, forming mountains.
Convergent boundary; one plate is subducting beneath another, forming mountains.

Transform boundary; plates are moving away from each other, forming volcanoes.
Transform boundary; plates are moving away from each other, forming volcanoes.

Convergent boundary; plates are moving apart and creating new ocean crust
Convergent boundary; plates are moving apart and creating new ocean crust

Answer 1

Convergent boundary; one plate is subducting beneath another, forming mountains.

Explanation: The oceanic Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the continental South American Plate, producing earthquakes and uplifting the Andes.