What is the primary effect of denudation?

• A. Formation of new rocks
• B. Wearing away rock material
• C. Cooling of magma
• D. Raising of mountain ranges

Answer: (B)

The primary effect of denudation is the wearing away of rock material. Denudation encompasses the processes that lead to the erosion and removal of soil and rock from the Earth’s surface through weathering, transportation, and erosion. This process contributes to the gradual leveling of the landscape, as it breaks down rocks into smaller particles and transports them away, often leading to changes in the topography.

While denudation does have implications for other geological processes, such as influencing the formation of sedimentary rocks through the accumulation of eroded materials, its main characteristic is the continuous process of wearing down and exposing the underlying materials. Other options refer to processes that do not directly align with the primary definition of denudation. For instance, the formation of new rocks is more closely related to igneous and sedimentary processes, cooling of magma pertains to volcanic activity, and the raising of mountain ranges involves tectonic activity rather than erosion.