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Tectonic Plates are formed when a divergence occurs within a continent; it is called as ÒRiftingÓ. When hot magma advances from below, the mantle pushes the crust and causes pressure forcing the continent to break and separate creating an earthquake.

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9y ago
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8y ago

When the entire earth formed, it had a very cool pre-ice age ice age. The magma cooled and formed these giant rocks.

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There was a very deep ice-age in Precambrian times but long before that, the primary cooling and solidifying of the Crust into granite continental, and basalt ocean-floor, plates would have been by radiation of heat into Space.

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12y ago

The crust plates are floating on the molten core of the planet, and the plates are constantly moving. Where plates meet is the plate boundary. Stress builds up at the plate boundary until it is suddenly released causing an earthquake.

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15y ago

Plate tectonics form the continents, oceans, and mountains.

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Q: How did the plates spread apart?
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