Questions and Answers
What is a continental rift?
What defines a passive margin?
Where continental rifting has resulted in the breakup and formation of a new ocean basin.
What is the East African Rift System?
Narrow rift.
What characterizes the Basin and Range Province in the USA?
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What is a narrow rift?
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What defines a wide rift?
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Study Notes
Continental Rifts
- Continental rift refers to a continental crust area experiencing extensional strain due to mantle plumes and lithospheric doming caused by plume buoyancy.
Passive Margins
- Passive margins occur where continental rifting has caused the breakup of continental masses, leading to the formation of new ocean basins without contact between landmasses.
East African Rift System
- Characterized as a narrow rift, the East African Rift system exemplifies a region where tectonic movement leads to significant geological changes.
Basin and Range Province (USA)
- The Basin and Range Province represents a wide rift, showcasing broader extensional features resulting from tectonic activities.
Narrow Rift Characteristics
- Narrow rifts develop in areas where the lithosphere is thin, cool, and strong, leading to localized zones of extensional strain over approximately 100 km.
Wide Rift Characteristics
- Wide rifts are found where the lithosphere is thick, warm, and weak, resulting in extensive zones of extensional strain that can span several hundred kilometers.
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Description
Test your knowledge about continental rifts with these flashcards. Learn key terms such as 'continental rift', 'passive margin', and the 'East African rift system'. Perfect for students studying geology or earth science.
