Why are the Catskills not really mountains?
a the catskills are lowlands
b all mountains must be volcanic in origin
c the horizontal rock structure shows no deformation
d the catskills are a direct deposit of the last pleistocene glaicer
To determine why the Catskills are not considered "real" mountains, let's examine the given options:
a) The Catskills are lowlands: This option suggests that the Catskills cannot be mountains because they are in a low-lying area. However, this is not entirely accurate, as mountains can exist in lowland regions.
b) All mountains must be volcanic in origin: This option states that mountains must have formed through volcanic activity, which is not true. While some mountains form due to volcanic processes, others can be formed through tectonic movements or other geological processes.
c) The horizontal rock structure shows no deformation: This option suggests that the lack of deformation in the rock structure of the Catskills means they are not mountains. This is closer to the correct answer. Mountains typically form through tectonic forces that cause significant deformation in the Earth's crust, resulting in folded and uplifted rock layers. If the Catskills lack observable deformation, it suggests that they may not meet the criteria of typical mountains.
d) The Catskills are a direct deposit of the last Pleistocene glacier: This option claims that the Catskills are a result of a direct deposition of glacial sediments from the last Ice Age. This is the correct answer. The Catskill Mountains are not true mountains in the sense of being formed through tectonic activity. Instead, they are an example of a dissected plateau where the rocks were not significantly deformed by tectonic forces. The uplifted and eroded landscape in the Catskills is attributed to the movements of the last Pleistocene glacier.
In conclusion, the correct answer is (d) - the Catskills are a direct deposit of the last Pleistocene glacier.