How himalaya formedBy / Himalayan Formation Quiz 🏔️ MCQs on the Formation of the Himalayas Q1. The Himalayas were formed due to the collision of which two tectonic plates? A. Indian and Arabian B. Eurasian and Australian C. Indian and Eurasian D. Indian and Pacific 📝 Explanation: Around 50 million years ago, the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate, leading to the upliftment of the sediments in the Tethys Sea and forming the Himalayan mountain range. Q2. The sea that existed between the Indian and Eurasian plates before the Himalayas were formed was called: A. Caspian Sea B. Tethys Sea C. Dead Sea D. Aral Sea 📝 Explanation: The Tethys Sea was an ancient oceanic basin where sedimentation occurred for millions of years. These sediments were later folded and uplifted into the Himalayas due to plate collision. Q3. What type of plate boundary interaction led to the formation of the Himalayas? A. Divergent boundary B. Transform boundary C. Convergent boundary D. Passive margin 📝 Explanation: The Himalayas were formed by convergent plate boundary interaction, where the Indian Plate subducted under the Eurasian Plate, pushing up mountain ranges. Q4. The zone where the Indian and Eurasian plates met and fused is called: A. Rift zone B. Fault line C. Suture zone D. Subduction trench 📝 Explanation: The Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone is where the two plates collided and welded, marking the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates. Q5. The Himalayas are how many million years old approximately? A. 10 million years B. 40 million years C. 100 million years D. 200 million years 📝 Explanation: Geologists estimate that the Himalayan uplift began around 40–50 million years ago, making them relatively young mountains in geological terms. Q6. Which of the following geological processes was most involved in the formation of the Himalayas? A. Volcanic eruption B. Glacial erosion C. Folding of sediments D. River deposition 📝 Explanation: The sediments of the Tethys Sea were folded and thrust upwards due to the pressure of the colliding plates, leading to mountain formation. Q7. Isostasy in the context of Himalayas refers to: A. Balancing air pressure in valleys B. Earthquake resistance C. Upliftment and balance of crust over the mantle D. Melting of glaciers 📝 Explanation: Isostasy is the concept that the Earth’s crust floats on the denser, semi-fluid mantle. As the Himalayas rise, they also experience vertical adjustments to maintain this balance. 🏞️ Advanced MCQs on Himalayan Formation Q8. What is the geological term for the large-scale bending of rock layers due to plate collision, which led to Himalayan formation? A. Weathering B. Folding C. Faulting D. Erosion 📝 Explanation: The immense pressure from the collision of plates caused folding of sedimentary rocks, leading to the rise of the Himalayas. Q9. The Himalayan range is an example of which type of mountains? A. Volcanic mountains B. Block mountains C. Fold mountains D. Dome mountains 📝 Explanation: Himalayas are young fold mountains formed by the compression of earth’s crust due to tectonic plate convergence. Q10. Which of the following is a characteristic of young fold mountains like the Himalayas? A. Rounded peaks and low elevation B. Steep slopes and high peaks C. Formed mainly of igneous rocks D. Located in oceanic trenches 📝 Explanation: The Himalayas are geologically young and have sharp, steep peaks, rugged terrain, and deep valleys. Q11. What lies beneath the Indian plate that prevents it from subducting deeply into the mantle during its collision with the Eurasian plate? A. It is too heavy B. It is denser than oceanic crust C. It is too thick and buoyant D. It contains magma chambers 📝 Explanation: The Indian plate is made of continental crust which is thick and buoyant, so instead of subducting, it crumples and uplifts—forming the Himalayas. Q12. The presence of marine fossils in the Himalayan rocks supports which theory? A. Continental drift B. Sea floor spreading C. Plate tectonics D. Himalayan uplift from sea sediments 📝 Explanation: Marine fossils indicate that the rocks forming the Himalayas were once under the Tethys Sea, confirming their sedimentary origin and uplift. Q13. Which suture zone marks the major collision boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates? A. Malda Gap B. Ninety East Ridge C. Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone D. Kirthar Fault 📝 Explanation: The Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone is the geologic boundary where the plates collided and the sediments were uplifted. Q14. Which region in Himachal Pradesh shows the most complex folding and metamorphism due to Himalayan orogeny? A. Una and Hamirpur B. Chamba and Spiti C. Kangra Valley D. Sirmaur Plains 📝 Explanation: Chamba and Spiti have exposed older formations and metamorphic rocks—proof of intense folding and geological uplift during Himalayan formation. Q15. What role does the plastic upper mantle play in the formation of the Himalayas? A. It melts and forms volcanoes B. It supports isostatic uplift C. It compresses sediments D. It evaporates during collision 📝 Explanation: The upper mantle (asthenosphere) is semi-fluid, allowing crustal blocks to float and adjust, contributing to isostatic balance during and after uplift. 🏔️ More MCQs on Himalayan Formation Q16. Which of the following statements about the Himalayan formation is true? A. It was formed by volcanic eruption in the Tethys Sea. B. It is the result of erosion by ancient glaciers. C. It formed due to the subduction of oceanic crust beneath oceanic crust. D. It formed due to collision between two continental plates. 📝 Explanation: The Himalayas were formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian continental plates, which led to the upliftment of the sediments in the Tethys Sea. Q17. The Indian plate is still moving towards the Eurasian plate at what approximate rate? A. 1–2 mm per year B. 2–3 cm per year C. 5–10 cm per year D. 20–30 cm per year 📝 Explanation: The Indian plate is moving northward at a rate of about 5 cm/year, which causes frequent earthquakes in the Himalayan region. Q18. The Great Himalayan range is composed mainly of: A. Basaltic lava B. Recent alluvial deposits C. Sedimentary and metamorphic rocks D. Wind-blown sandstones 📝 Explanation: The core of the Great Himalayas consists mainly of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, uplifted from the Tethys Sea sediments. Q19. The uplift of the Himalayas is still continuing due to: A. Volcanoes under the Himalayas B. Constant erosion C. Plate tectonic activity D. Melting glaciers 📝 Explanation: The Indian plate is still pushing against the Eurasian plate, causing the Himalayas to rise a few millimeters each year. Q20. Which geological concept explains the vertical adjustment of the Himalayas in response to erosion and uplift? A. Uniformitarianism B. Isostasy C. Catastrophism D. Orogenesis 📝 Explanation: Isostasy refers to the vertical balancing of the earth’s crust on the denser semi-fluid mantle, explaining the rise and sinking of Himalayan blocks. Q21. What is orogeny, a term often associated with the formation of the Himalayas? A. Wind erosion process B. Oceanic trench formation C. Mountain-building process D. Glacier movement 📝 Explanation: Orogeny is the geological term for the mountain-building process that occurs due to plate convergence and crustal compression. Q22. Which of the following is not associated with the Himalayan formation? A. Folding B. Plate collision C. Subduction of oceanic crust D. Volcanic island arc 📝 Explanation: Volcanic island arcs are typical of oceanic-oceanic subduction zones (e.g., Japan), not relevant to the continental collision that formed the Himalayas. Q23. Which feature marks the southern boundary of the Himalayas and represents the youngest formation? A. Karakoram Range B. Siwalik Hills C. Zanskar Range D. Dhauladhar Range 📝 Explanation: The Siwalik Range (Outer Himalayas) consists of youngest tertiary rocks, formed from eroded material from the main Himalayas. Q24. The sediments in the Tethys Sea that formed the Himalayas were originally deposited as: A. Wind-blown dust B. River delta sediments C. Marine sediments D. Glacial moraines 📝 Explanation: The Tethys Sea was a shallow marine basin, where marine sediments accumulated over millions of years before being folded and uplifted into the Himalayas. Q25. Which of the following mountain ranges is the oldest in comparison to the Himalayas? A. Aravalli B. Karakoram C. Zanskar D. Dhauladhar 📝 Explanation: The Aravalli Range is over 1,000 million years old, much older than the Himalayas, which are only about 40–50 million years old. Submit Quiz Your Score: 0 / 25
