Gorges are most likely to form in which type of geological material?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. Hard rock formations.
Gorges usually carve themselves out in hard rock formations, so that’s the correct answer. When a river cuts through resistant rocks like granite or basalt, it takes thousands or even millions of years, but the result is a deep, narrow valley with steep sides. Classic examples include the Grand Canyon carved through layered hard rocks and the Indus Gorge through the Himalayas. Hard rocks hold their shape even after prolonged erosion, which is why the walls stay steep.
The other options don’t fit well. Soft clay layers erode too quickly and collapse before forming a proper gorge. Loose sand deposits get washed away easily and form wide valleys instead. Peat and marshy soils are too soft and waterlogged, so they create wetlands, not steep gorges.