Question

when scientists analyzed drilling samples from the glomar challenger study, which discovery did they make about rocks in relation to a mid - ocean ridge? rocks closer to the ridge are newer. rocks closer to the ridge contain more iron. rocks farther from the ridge are denser. rocks farther from the ridge are more jagged.

Explanation:

Mid - ocean ridges are areas where new oceanic crust is formed. As magma rises and solidifies at the ridge, new rocks are created. Over time, as the tectonic plates move apart, the older rocks are carried away from the ridge. So, the rocks closer to the ridge are newly formed (younger), while those farther away are older. There is no general rule that rocks closer to the ridge have more iron (iron content can vary due to many factors not just proximity to the ridge). Denser rocks are not necessarily farther from the ridge (density can be influenced by composition and pressure - depth relationships which are not directly tied to distance from the ridge in a simple way). And jaggedness of rocks is more related to weathering and erosion processes (which can act on rocks regardless of their distance from the ridge in a non - systematic way compared to the age - distance relationship at mid - ocean ridges).

Answer:

Rocks closer to the ridge are newer.