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Hydrothermal Activity and Terraces

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Hydrothermal Activity and Terraces

Imagine you are helping a team explain New Zealand’s famous Pink and White Terraces. Read the information and use the visuals to investigate how hydrothermal activity shapes land. Write in full sentences where asked.

A landscape made by hot water

The Pink and White Terraces were natural silica formations beside Lake Rotomahana, in the central North Island of New Zealand. Rainwater seeped underground, where heat from volcanic activity warmed it. The hot water dissolved silica from rocks and rose through cracks. At the surface, the water cooled and silica was left behind in thin layers. Over a very long time, these layers built up into stepped pools. The 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera buried or destroyed the terraces. Scientists continue to study the area and its changing landscape.

1.Number these events from 1 to 5 to show how silica terraces form: hot water cools at the surface; rainwater seeps underground; silica builds up in layers; underground heat warms the water; hot water dissolves silica and rises.

2.Why did the hot water carry silica towards the surface? Choose the best answer.

The hot water dissolved silica from rocks underground.
The water changed all the rocks into rain.
The silica floated down from clouds.
The lake pushed silica through the ground.

3.Complete the cause-and-effect link: When silica-rich hot water cooled at the surface, what happened to the silica?

4.Write True or False for each statement: a) Hydrothermal activity involves heated water underground. b) The terraces formed in a single day. c) Cracks in rock can let hot water rise. d) The terraces were beside Lake Rotomahana.

5.Which detail from the information shows that terrace formation took a long time? Explain what the detail tells you.

6.Match each process word to what it means in terrace formation.

Dissolve
Deposit
Erupt

Material is left behind
A mineral mixes into water
Volcano releases material and energy

7.The Mount Tarawera eruption happened in 1886. What effect did it have on the Pink and White Terraces, according to the information?

8.Hugo says, “The terraces were made by ordinary lake water depositing sand.” Use two details from the information to correct his claim.

9.Write a short explanation of how hydrothermal activity formed stepped terraces. Use at least four of these words: underground, heated, dissolved, rising, cooling, silica, layers.

Draw a simple labelled sketch showing how hot water rises through rock and leaves silica at the surface. Include arrows and labels for heat, rising water, cooling, and silica deposits.