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A rift zone. A series of linear crustal fractures.

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Why do the tectonic plates move in the first place?

Tectonic plates move because of the heat and pressure from the Earth's core, causing convection currents in the mantle that push the plates apart or pull them together.


Most of the geological activity at the surface of earth takes place at boundaries between?

Most of the geological activity at the Earth's surface takes place at boundaries between tectonic plates. These boundaries can be convergent (where plates collide), divergent (where plates move apart), or transform (where plates slide past each other).


What are plates moving apart?

Rigid plates are spreading centres or rift zones are where tectonic plates are moving away from each other. Often these areas are in ocean basins. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is where the North and South American plates are moving away from the Eurasian and African plates. Magma wells up to fill the void left by the plates, forming a ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the longest mountain chain on earth. Rift ones sometimes extend onto land. The Dead Sea/Jordan River valley is one example. Another area is in eastern Africa.


Where does seafloor spreading take place?

Mid-Ocean ridges.


What is the difference between divergent plate boundaries and convergent plate boundaries?

Okay this is going to be long :X IN GENERAL... Divergent Plate Movement (plates move away from each other)- Continental and continental, oceanic and oceanic -Constructive Plate Boundary Convergent Plate Movement (plates move towards each other)- Continental and Oceanic, Oceanic and Oceanic, Continental and Continental -Destructive Plate Boundary Transform Plate Movement (plates sliding past each other)- Continental and Continental -Conservative Plate Boundary DIVERGENT PLATE MOVEMENT When plates move apart, magma wells up from Earth's mantle to form a new ocean floor with mid-oceanic ridges. It is a constructive plate boundary because new land crust is being created. O & O (Oceanic and Oceanic) Oceanic Ridges and Submarine volcanoes are formed. Shallow earthquakes may occur and there may be volcanic activity. Magma from the deeper mantle wells up into the gap formed when two oceanic plates move away from each other, and some of it melts and is erupted on the surface as lava, while others are injected near the surface to crystallize as other igneous rocks. The seafloor may also spread, and magma rises to the floor and solidify, forming new crust. Therefore it is a constructive plate boundary as new crust is formed and added to the ocean floor. An example of the resulting landforms would be the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. C & C (Continental and Continental) When two continental plates move away from each other, a sea is formed. E.g. Red Sea. CONVERGENT PLATE MOVEMENT When plates move towards each other, they may collide. When 2 oceanic plates collide, plate edges are bent into a deep trench called the subduction zone. It is a destructive plate boundary because the subducted plate is destroyed in the process. O & O Subduction takes place, and the over-riding plate (the plate above) folds and form islands, whilst the heavier plate sinks into the mantle of the Earth and is melted away by the magma. The magma rises and forms volcanoes. E.g. Japan. C & O When an oceanic plate collide with a continental plate, the oceanic plate sinks as it has a larger density. Lithosphere materials from the oceanic crust are subducted in the trench whilst the continental border is fractured, folded and uplifted. Magma rises and a mountain accompanied by volcanic activity are formed. E.g. Andes Mountains. C & C When two continental plates collide, neither sinks because they have similar densities. The continental lithosphere buckles and is uplifted instead, forming fold mountains. Little volcanic activity occur as rocks from the lithosphere do not sink deep into the asthenosphere (upper mantle zone) Earthquakes, faulting and folding however, are common. E.g. Himalayas. TRANSFORM PLATE MOVEMENT Occurs when two plates slip past each other. Tear faults form, accompanied by earthquakes due to great amount of stress built up in these areas, but there is little volcanic activity and little crustal material is destroyed.

Related Questions

What feature forms at the place where two continental plates pull apart?

This will form a series of tensile features. Initially, normal faulting will occur, then horst and graben structures will form and ultimately a rift valley will develop.


Why volcano is a geomorphic process?

it moves crustal materials from place to place


Do the continental plates remain in one place?

No, both the continental and oceanic plates are always moving. Moving slowly, but always moving.


What is the place where earth's plates move apart?

divergent boundary


Why is oceanic plate denser than continental plate?

Oceanic plates are primarily made up of basaltic rock while continental plates are primarily made of granitic rock. Basalt is denser than granite which allows oceanic plates to subduct beneath continental plates.


What caused continental drift?

volcanos, mountains


Where do two of the earth's plates split apart?

The Mid-Atlantic-Ridge is where two of Earth's plates split apart. The Mid-Atlantic-Ridge was formed along a divergent boundary where seafloor spreading is taking place.


When the earth plates move apart what happens?

when two plate moves apart from each other the intrusion of magma has been take place from mantle


Were does subduction take place?

Subduction takes place primarily at convergent plate boundaries, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another. This process occurs in areas such as the Pacific Ring of Fire, where oceanic plates are being subducted beneath continental plates, leading to volcanism and seismic activity.


Why do the tectonic plates move in the first place?

Tectonic plates move because of the heat and pressure from the Earth's core, causing convection currents in the mantle that push the plates apart or pull them together.


Place where older crust is destroyed because two plates converge or push together?

continental-continental collision I think. When I got down to the last one, that was the only answer left.


Most of the geological activity at the surface of earth takes place at boundaries between?

Most of the geological activity at the Earth's surface takes place at boundaries between tectonic plates. These boundaries can be convergent (where plates collide), divergent (where plates move apart), or transform (where plates slide past each other).