Introduction to Geology Test Questions https://quizplus.com/study-set/1806 25 Chapters 1225 Verified Questions
Introduction to Geology Test Questions Course Introduction Introduction to Geology provides a foundational overview of the Earth’s physical structure, processes, and history. Students will explore topics such as the composition and classification of minerals and rocks, plate tectonics, the formation of landscapes, and the dynamic processes like earthquakes, volcanism, and erosion that continually shape our planet. This course also examines Earth's geological time scale, the origins of natural resources, and human interactions with geological environments, equipping students with essential knowledge to understand Earth's past, present, and future.
Recommended Textbook Essentials of Geology 5th Edition by Stephen Marshak
Available Study Resources on Quizplus 25 Chapters 1225 Verified Questions 1225 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/1806
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Chapter 1: The Earth in Context Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35902
Sample Questions Q1) The current estimate for the age of Earth of 4.57 Ga comes from ________. A)radiometric age dating of meteorites B)radiometric age dating of sedimentary rocks C)the light from distant galaxies D)the amount of nuclear fuel in the Sun Answer: A Q2) Volatile materials can exist as a gas at Earth's surface.Which of the following is NOT a volatile material? A)water B)silicon C)hydrogen D)carbon dioxide Answer: B Q3) An important contribution made by Copernicus is his (correct)assertion that the ________. A)Earth is spherical B)Sun is the center of the whole Universe C)Sun is the center of Earth's orbit D)Earth is the center of the Universe Answer: C To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35903
Sample Questions Q1) Marine magnetic anomalies can be used to estimate the ________. A)rate of seafloor spreading B)rate of seafloor subsidence C)age of the seafloor sediments D)rate of Earth's expansion Answer: A Q2) The thickness of oceanic lithosphere is ________. A)nearly uniformly 100 kilometers B)greatest at the geographic poles and least near the equator C)greatest near the mid-ocean ridges and thins out away from the ridges D)least near the mid-ocean ridges and thickens away from the ridges Answer: D Q3) Under the theory of plate tectonics,the plates themselves are ________. A)discrete pieces of lithosphere at the surface of the solid Earth that move with respect to one another B)discrete layers of lithosphere that are vertically stacked one atop the other C)composed only of continental rocks that plow through the weaker oceanic rocks D)very thick (approximately one-quarter of Earth's radius) Answer: A To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: Patterns in Nature: Minerals Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35904
Sample Questions Q1) Explain why a cubic zirconia is NOT a mineral. Answer: Cubic zirconia are man-made and therefore not considered a mineral. Q2) Potassium feldspar (KAlSi₃O₈)is in which mineral class? A)silicates B)carbonates C)oxides D)sulfides Answer: A Q3) Synthetically made glass and natural quartz crystals both exhibit a fracture pattern termed ________. A)glassy fracture B)conchoidal fracture C)one-directional cleavage D)obtuse fracture Answer: B Q4) Why are minerals often referred to as "the building blocks of Earth"? Answer: Earth is made of many different types of rocks,and rocks are composed of a mixture of minerals in various forms.Thus,the smallest "building block" of Earth is actually the mineral. To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 5
Chapter 4: Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35906
Sample Questions Q1) Magma tends to ________. A)move upward,away from where it formed B)move downward,away from where it formed C)move laterally D)stay in one place Q2) Describe the difference between the relative viscosity of felsic versus mafic magma and how this affects the rate of flow of each type. Q3) If a body of magma is subjected to fractional crystallization,the first rock that is expected to crystallize from the magma will be ________. A)identical in chemical composition to the magma B)more mafic than the magma C)more felsic than the magma D)The composition of the rock is not predictable. Q4) Why is the outer core the only layer in Earth that is molten? A)The pressure decreases within Earth,thus allowing iron to melt. B)The pressure increases within Earth,thus allowing iron to melt. C)The temperature is high enough but pressure low enough to melt iron. D)The temperature is high enough but pressure low enough to melt olivine. To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35907
Sample Questions Q1) A fast-moving flow consisting of a mixture of water and volcanoclastic debris is termed a ________. A)lahar B)pyroclastic flow C)flood basalt D)hyaloclastite Q2) Describe how an explosive volcanic eruption can create a global cooling event. Q3) Felsic magma generally forms in ________. A)the mantle B)mid-ocean ridges C)continental crust D)oceanic crust Q4) Which of the following volcanic products can decrease global temperatures? A)sulphur dioxide B)mafic magma C)carbon monoxide D)ash and aerosols Q5) Describe how explosive eruptions occur.Make sure to address viscosity,gas content,and the process for building pressure. 7 click on the resource link above. To view all questions and flashcards with Page answers,
Chapter 6: Pages of Earth S Past: Sedimentary Rocks Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35909
Sample Questions Q1) Compaction and cementation of grains occur during ________. A)erosion B)lithification C)transport D)weathering Q2) ________ basins contain the largest accumulation of marine sediments. A)Rift B)Passive-margin C)Foreland D)Intracontinental Q3) Diagenesis refers to ________. A)the development of layering within sedimentary rocks B)the act of deposition of sediment that will ultimately form sedimentary rock C)physical and chemical alterations,including compaction and cementation,that occur as sediment is transformed into rock D)the natural process of separating sediment by grain size Q4) Limestone can be either a biochemical or a chemical sedimentary rock.Explain how both types of limestone are formed.Make sure to describe the environments in which they were formed. Q5) Describe the difference between lithification and diagenesis. Page 8 To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 7: Metamorphism: A Process of Change Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35910
Sample Questions Q1) Preferential stress will cause crystals to rotate into a preferred orientation unless the crystals are ________. A)primarily mica B)platy C)equant D)elongate Q2) Marble and quartzite are nonfoliated rocks because ________. A)they are never found beneath fault zones or collisional mountain ranges B)both are dominated by minerals that produce equant grains C)both are dominated by minerals with crystalline structures that cannot be dissolved D)dynamothermal metamorphism can break down the structures of their constituent minerals,but neither of these minerals is stable in that metamorphic environment Q3) Preexisting rock that is subsequently altered to form a metamorphic rock is termed a ________. A)xenolith B)source rock C)protolith D)phenocryst To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 9
Chapter 8: A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35912
Sample Questions Q1) Surface waves ________. A)travel more rapidly than body waves B)produce most of the damage to buildings during earthquakes C)are the first waves initially produced in an earthquake D)are the first waves to arrive at a seismograph station after an earthquake Q2) Earthquakes that occur in a band called the ________ can be used to track the motion of subducted oceanic lithosphere. A)Wegener belt B)seismic gap C)Wadati-Benioff zone D)Richter zone Q3) Earthquake ________ is a means of deciding where the ground is stable enough to build on in earthquake-prone areas. A)mitigation B)zoning C)retrofitting D)prevention Q4) How is the Mercalli intensity scale used to determine the magnitude of an earthquake? What errors might be associated with this technique? To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Crags, cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35914
Sample Questions Q1) Regularly spaced joints in an outcrop may indicate that an area ________. A)is under intense shear stress B)has experienced compressional stress C)is underlain by a thrust fault D)is formed from rocks that were once at great depth Q2) Continental crust is typically 35 kilometers thick but may be up to ________ thick under mountain ranges. A)40 km B)70 km C)200 km D)400 km Q3) Mount Marshak towers above the landscape at 5.3 km tall.The rate of uplift at Mount Marshak is 1.3 mm/yr and the rate of erosion is 1.5 mm/yr.How tall will Mount Marshak be after a million years,assuming everything remains constant? A)5.5 km B)7.3 km C)5.1 km D)3.3 km Q4) Explain how the mountains in the Basin and Page 11 Range Province were formed? To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 10: Deep Time: How Old Is Old Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35916
Sample Questions Q1) In an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks,younger layers overlie older layers,according to the principle of ________. A)superposition B)original continuity C)original horizontality D)uniformitarianism Q2) How much of a radioactive parent isotope will remain after three half-lives have passed? A)one-third B)three-halves C)one-eighth D)one-sixth Q3) If a basalt body cuts across a fault,what are the relative ages of the basalt and the fault? A)The fault must be older,according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. B)The basalt must be older,according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. C)The basalt must be older,according to the principle of original horizontality. D)Their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given. To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter 11: A Biography of Earth Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35917
Sample Questions Q1) Which of the Appalachian orogenies likely formed the largest mountain range? A)Taconic B)Caledonian C)Alleghanian D)Acadian Q2) ________ provide evidence of past life,and thus help geologists understand how life,and the environments they lived in,changed throughout Earth's history. A)Igneous rocks B)Fossils C)Faults D)Strata Q3) The Great Oxygenation Event occurred ~2.5 Ga and forced large amounts of ________ to precipitate out of the ocean. A)oxygenated halite B)banded iron formation C)carbonate minerals D)carbon-rich coal Q4) How were mammals able to take over as the dominant class of organisms on Earth? Q5) What caused the buildup of oxygen in the atmosphere at roughly 2.5 Ga? 13 click on the resource link above. To view all questions and flashcards withPage answers,
Chapter 12: Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35918
Sample Questions Q1) Describe how oil is formed.Make sure to address what organisms must accumulate,in what environment they must be deposited,and how the oil window effects the formation. Q2) ________ is a nonmetal mineral formed by evaporation and used to make drywall. A)Sulfur B)Gypsum C)Zinc D)Marble Q3) ________ is/are an example of conventional hydrocarbon sources. A)Shale gas B)Tar sands C)Oil shale D)Crude oil Q4) The high electrical conductivity associated with metallic bonds is found in ________. A)all minerals B)metal alloys only C)native metals D)magnetic minerals only To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 14
Chapter 13: Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35920
Sample Questions Q1) Which of the following would decrease the resistance force? A)lowering the slope angle B)adding a small amount of water C)chemical weathering of the slope D)adding material to the base of the hill Q2) Well-rounded sand has a smaller ________ than irregularly shaped gravel. A)cohesion B)angle of repose C)mineral stability D)cross-sectional area Q3) What type of mass movement would you expect to form in a slot canyon (steep-walled canyon)? A)avalanche B)rock fall C)slump D)lahar Q4) Describe the similarities and differences between a debris flow and a debris slide. Q5) Explain why time is often the most effective landslide trigger. Page 15 To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 14: Streams and Floods: The Geology of Running Water Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35921
Sample Questions Q1) Name and describe two methods to mitigate flood hazards. Q2) Ephemeral streams ________. A)consist of a series of intertwined channels that are overloaded with sediment B)have flowing water either episodically or during only a portion of the year C)have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy) D)are those that divert flow from streams they have intersected through stream erosion Q3) If a 50-year flood occurs on the Mississippi River this year,what is the probability that a flood of the same magnitude will occur in the following year? A)zero B)1% C)2% D)50% Q4) What will happen to a stream if the local base level is increased,for instance,by adding a dam to the river? Q5) What is a stream? How is it similar/different from a river or a creek? Q6) Building dams on rivers traps sediment behind the dams-sediments that would normally have traveled all the way down the river and out into the ocean.How might this Page 16 sediment starvation affect the coastal beaches? To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 15: Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35922
Sample Questions Q1) You have just bought your dream home along a coastline,but you notice that the beach in front of your new house is slowly disappearing.You decide to solve this by building a groin.Winds blow predominantly from east to west.Where do you place your groin? A)parallel to the shoreline several meters offshore B)perpendicular to the shore to the east of your house C)perpendicular to the shore to the west of your house D)perpendicular to the shore directly in front of your house Q2) The sea surface salinity is ________ at the mouth of the Amazon River and ________ in the Great Salt Lake,Utah. A)low;low B)high;low C)low;high D)high;high Q3) Waves are created by ________. A)tides B)the Moon C)the crust D)wind Q4) Describe what thermohaline circulation is and how it works. Page 17 To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 16: A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35923
Sample Questions Q1) A periodic explosive eruption of steam and water from within the ground up through the surface is termed a(n)________. A)artesian well B)geyser C)spring D)recharge area Q2) Imagine you are drilling and find water;how would you be able to tell if you have found a perched aquifer? A)The water table is too high. B)The water table is too low. C)The water will be saltier. D)The water will be contaminated. Q3) You are testing the groundwater quality of an aquifer and find that it has high amounts of arsenic.What is the likely source? A)The arsenic comes from the dissolved minerals in the aquifer rock. B)The arsenic comes from the reaction of the water with your testing supplies. C)The arsenic is being poured into the groundwater to poison the town. D)The arsenic is not actually there;it does not show up in groundwater. Q4) List and describe one possible effect from overpumping. To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 18
Chapter 17: Dry Regions: The Geology of Deserts Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35924
Sample Questions Q1) Conversion of productive land to desert is known as ________. A)deflation B)saltation C)degradation D)desertification Q2) Why is chemical weathering relatively rare in deserts? A)Chemical weathering requires much colder temperatures than are seen in deserts. B)Physical weathering occurs only in hot regions,thus is more prevalent in deserts. C)Chemical weathering only occurs in the presence of salt water from the ocean. D)Chemical weathering most often involves reaction with water,which is rare in deserts. Q3) Imagine that you come across a flat,thick layer of rock salt in an outcrop.What can you determine about the sedimentary environment in which it was formed? A)It was an ocean. B)It was a beach. C)It was humid. D)It was arid. To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
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Chapter 18: Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35925
Sample Questions Q1) The Milankovitch cycles describe the change in ________ because of changes in the ________ of Earth relative to the Sun. A)greenhouse gases;tilt B)eccentricity;orientation C)albedo;precession D)solar insolation;orientation Q2) Glaciers that move via basal sliding can often undergo surges in which they move at a much faster rate than normal because they ________. A)are not slowed down by plastic deformation B)float on a cushion of air like avalanches C)have minimal frictional contact with bedrock D)have a larger volume than other glaciers Q3) Which of the following scenarios would lead to glacial advance during a time of global warming? A)a glacier in a depression that lies in shadows most of the day B)a glacier in a valley on the leeward side of a mountain range C)a glacier that caps the highest mountain on the planet D)a continental glacier that covers an entire continent Q4) Explain why the deposits made by glacial outwash are stratified. To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 20
Chapter 19: Global Change in the Earth System Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 55 Verified Questions 55 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35926
Sample Questions Q1) Most industrial nations have intentionally decreased their production and use of refrigerants and other chlorofluorocarbons in the last 20 years to address the ________. A)decrease in Arctic Sea ice cover B)decrease in plankton fecundity in tropical and subtropical waters C)increase in hurricane,typhoon,and tropical cyclone intensity and/or number D)decrease in atmospheric ozone over the Antarctic Q2) Compare and contrast unidirectional change with cyclic change.Include an example of each in your answer. Q3) Which of the following is NOT the result of human interaction? A)the loss of biodiversity B)climate change C)the hole in the ozone layer D)the existence of radioactive materials Q4) The shifting of the plates on Earth's surface is an example of ________ change. A)bidirectional B)unidirectional C)multidirectional D)cyclic Q5) List and describe one way humans have impacted Earth. Page 21 To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 20: Interlude A: Rock Groups Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 30 Verified Questions 30 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35905
Sample Questions Q1) Give the definition of rock texture. Q2) Which of the following tools is used to identify minerals in the field? A)thin section B)hand lens C)petrographic microscope D)photomicrograph Q3) A(n)________ takes extremely high resolution images that can be used to determine the elements in a rock. A)petrographic microscope B)scanning electron microscope C)X-ray diffractometer D)photomicrograph Q4) A(n)________ material is held together,solid,and must be broken apart to separate it into smaller pieces. A)unconsolidated B)paved C)coherent D)buttressed Q5) List the three main rock groups and give a brief description of how each is formed. 22 click on the resource link above. To view all questions and flashcards withPage answers,
Chapter 21: Interlude B: A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 30 Verified Questions 30 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35908
Sample Questions Q1) The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was created by what phenomenon? A)increased rainfall B)lack of vegetation C)increased wind storms D)differential weathering Q2) Describe the difference between sediment and soil. Q3) Which of the following is a reason why wet soils tend to have more organic material than dry soils? A)Physical weathering occurs more rapidly in wet areas than in dry areas. B)Plants and microbes need water to live so they can aid decomposition. C)Wet soils tend to be in areas with rocks that are easily weathered. D)Wet areas tend to be near mountains with large supplies of sediment. Q4) Sediment does NOT contain ________. A)fragments of shells B)fragments of rock C)cemented grains D)precipitated crystals Q5) Describe how physical and chemical weathering can work together to break down Page 23 rocks. To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 22: Interlude C: The Rock Cycle Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 30 Verified Questions 30 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35911
Sample Questions Q1) Why have many Precambrian rocks remained unchanged for billions of years? A)They are so old that they have not had time to move past the first stage. B)They are protected within the interiors of the continents. C)They are only found in Antarctica and thus are not exposed to erosion. D)They are metamorphic rocks that are too hard to be transformed. Q2) Which of the following scenarios would likely occur at a slower rate? A)erosion of an outcrop of quartz-cemented sandstone B)erosion of an outcrop of shale C)erosion of an outcrop of calcite-cemented sandstone D)erosion of an outcrop of rock salt Q3) The rock cycle does not occur on the Moon because ________. A)the Moon does not have gravity B)the Moon does not receive sunlight C)there is no plate tectonics on the Moon D)there are only sedimentary rocks on the Moon Q4) What is the rock cycle? A)the cycle that rocks go through when interacting with water B)the transformation of one mineral type to another C)the transformation of one rock type to another D)the cycle that rocks undergo when interacting with air Page 24 To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 23: Interlude D: The Earth S Interior Revisited: Insights From Geophysics Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 30 Verified Questions 30 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35913
Sample Questions Q1) Seismic waves ________ when they move from the crust into the mantle. A)speed up B)slow down C)reverse direction D)are not affected Q2) The core-mantle boundary was first discovered when seismologists noticed a(n)________ on the opposite side of Earth. A)seismic discontinuity B)low velocity zone C)S-wave shadow D)P-wave shadow Q3) Earth's magnetic field is produced in the ________. A)crust B)mantle C)outer core D)inner core Q4) Why does a mountain show a positive gravity anomaly? Q5) If a P-wave is traveling from a layer of mantle peridotite to a layer of limestone Page 25 crust,what will happen to the P-wave in terms of speed and direction of motion? To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 24: Interlude E: Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 30 Verified Questions 30 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35915
Sample Questions Q1) How is mass extinction different from extinction? Q2) Imagine that a layer of leaves is scattered along a forest floor;what must happen in order to preserve these leaves as fossils? A)The leaves must be picked up by wind or animals and carried to a desert. B)The leaves must be buried slowly so that the leaves can begin to rot. C)The leaves must be buried rapidly in order to keep out oxygen. D)The leaves will never be preserved,as they do not contain hard parts. Q3) Mammals belong to the kingdom ________. A)Protista B)Mammalia C)Eukarya D)Animalia Q4) The most general distinction among organisms is based on differences in DNA and is called the ________. A)kingdom B)phylum C)domain D)species Page 26 Q5) Explain how evolution by natural selection occurs. Q6) Explain why the fossil record is incomplete.
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Chapter 25: Interlude F: An Introduction to Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper 30 Verified Questions 30 Flashcards Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/35919
Sample Questions Q1) Which of the following landforms would be the result of subsidence? A)mountain range B)wave-cut terrace C)desert buttes D)fore-arc basin Q2) If an area experiences uplift it will form a ________;if it experiences subsidence it will form a ________. A)depression;mountain B)mountain;depression C)valley;mesa D)basin;mountain Q3) If erosion is occurring in an area of weak rock,what would you expect the landscape to look like? A)gentle hills B)steep cliffs C)uplifted terraces D)vertical canyons Q4) What is a landform and how is it linked to the landscape? Page 28 Q5) What type(s)of energy control(s)erosion? Explain your answer. Q6) Describe the process that drives the uplift of mountain ranges.
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