Plate Tectonics

Choose the Correct Answer

Correct Answer : Option c

Explanation
India has received its first-ever global exploration licence from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to explore polymetallic sulphide deposits in the Carlsberg Ridge.

Statement 1 is correct: The Carlsberg Ridge is a mid-oceanic ridge located in the western Indian Ocean, specifically in the Arabian Sea. It is part of the Central Indian Ridge system and represents a divergent plate boundary, where tectonic plates move apart and magma rises to form a new oceanic crust.

Statement 2 is not correct: The Carlsberg Ridge does not separate the Bay of Bengal from the Somali Basin. Instead, it separates the Arabian Sea to the northeast from the Somali Basin to the southwest. It also does not connect directly to the East Pacific Rise. The East Pacific Rise is located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, far from the Indian Ocean. The Carlsberg Ridge connects to the Mid-Indian Ridge and extends toward the Gulf of Aden, not the Pacific.

Statement 3 is correct: The ridge marks the boundary between the Somali Plate (sometimes referred to as the Arabian Plate in tectonic models) and the Indian Plate. It is a zone of frequent seismic activity, with multiple earthquake epicenters recorded along its length.