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← GeographyWhich process causes the formation of a volcanic island arc along a subduction zone?
A)Mantle plume hot spot development
B)Decompression melting of upwelling asthenosphere
C)Flux melting of mantle wedge peridotite✓
D)Crustal extension and rift volcanism
💡 Explanation
When an oceanic plate subducts, water is released from the subducting slab's hydrated minerals causing flux melting of the mantle wedge because water lowers the melting point of peridotite, generating magma that rises to form island arcs. Therefore flux melting results, rather than other melting processes that require different geological settings.
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