Answer
The formation of mountainous topography at a volcanic island arc is just one phase in the development of a major mountain belt. When an oceanic plate is subducted beneath another plate, a volcanic island arc can form on the overriding plate due to magma generation from the melting of the descending plate.
However, as the subduction continues and the oceanic plate is gradually consumed, the volcanic island arc will eventually collide with the continental plate or another island arc. This collision leads to intense compression and deformation, resulting in the uplift and folding of crustal rocks, ultimately forming a major mountain belt. Thus, the volcanic island arc stage is an early phase in the long-term mountain-building process.
Work Step by Step
Refer to the answer above.
