According to plate tectonics, what do oceanic crust formations indicate about age in relation to mid-ocean ridges?

The explanation for why this choice is accurate revolves around the process of seafloor spreading, which occurs at mid-ocean ridges. As tectonic plates move apart, magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap, solidifying to form new oceanic crust. Over time, as more magma erupts and solidifies, the newly formed basalt continues to push the older crust away from the ridge.

Consequently, the oldest basalt, which is derived from this process, will be found farthest away from the mid-ocean ridge. Geologists can use radiometric dating to show that the age of the oceanic crust increases with distance from these ridges. This observation forms a critical part of the evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics, demonstrating how the dynamic nature of the Earth's surface continually reshapes itself through processes like seafloor spreading.

In contrast, the other options suggest that the oldest rock is located either at the ridge itself or assumes uniformity of age, which contradicts the observed patterns in geological data.