The quartzite found in the Santa Ana Mountains is considered one of the most pristine Paleozoic mineral deposits,
believed to be metamorphosed since the deposition of the Triassic era.
(A) believed to be
Incorrect. The modifier -
believed to be metamorphosed since the deposition of the Triassic era - incorrectly modifies the noun present before the comma, i.e. Paleozoic mineral deposits. However, it needs to modify quartzite .
(B) and it is believed to have been
Correct. The use of "since" in the non underlined part of sentence suggests that the action of believing extends from certain past time until the present. And so the use of present perfect tense is correct , not simple present tense.
(C) and that is believed to be
Incorrect. The use of "since" in the non underlines part of sentence suggests that that the action of believing extends from certain past time until the present. And so the use of present perfect tense (have been) is correct , not simple present tense (is).
(D) which was, it is believed,
Incorrect. The use of "which" incorrectly modifies the noun present before the comma, i.e. Paleozoic mineral deposits. However, it needs to modify quartzite .
(E) which are believed to be
Incorrect. The use of "which" incorrectly modifies the noun present before the comma, i.e. Paleozoic mineral deposits. However, it needs to modify quartzite .