The Earth's history is shaped by different geological processes over a wide range of space and time.

For example, in the late 1900s, a crater was discovered near the town of Wetumpka, Alabama. Scientists found shocked quartz in the core samples collected from the crater. Shocked quartz occurs as a result of intense metamorphism (change in the structure of rocks).

Which of the following geological processes is most likely responsible for the formation of the crater?
A. erosion by water
B. tectonic plate movement
C. volcanic eruption
D. meteor impact