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Questions and Answers
Faults are common at ______ boundaries.
Faults are common at ______ boundaries.
transform
Mountain ranges like the Himalayas are formed at ______ boundaries.
Mountain ranges like the Himalayas are formed at ______ boundaries.
convergent
Heat from the Earth's core causes ______ currents in the mantle.
Heat from the Earth's core causes ______ currents in the mantle.
convection
Identical fossils of the Mesosaurus suggest that continents were once ______.
Identical fossils of the Mesosaurus suggest that continents were once ______.
Earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated along tectonic plate ______.
Earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated along tectonic plate ______.
Active volcanoes are primarily found at tectonic plate ______.
Active volcanoes are primarily found at tectonic plate ______.
The location directly above where an earthquake originates is called the ______.
The location directly above where an earthquake originates is called the ______.
Major mountain ranges like the Himalayas are formed at ______ boundaries.
Major mountain ranges like the Himalayas are formed at ______ boundaries.
At divergent boundaries, two tectonic plates move ______ from each other.
At divergent boundaries, two tectonic plates move ______ from each other.
The process where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another is called ______.
The process where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another is called ______.
Sea-floor spreading occurs at ______ boundaries.
Sea-floor spreading occurs at ______ boundaries.
Transform boundaries can cause ______ as two plates slide past each other.
Transform boundaries can cause ______ as two plates slide past each other.
Faulting occurs when stress builds up along a ______.
Faulting occurs when stress builds up along a ______.
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Study Notes
Active Geological Features
- Active Volcanoes: Primarily located at convergent and divergent tectonic plate boundaries; the Pacific Ring of Fire hosts the majority of these volcanoes.
- Earthquake Epicenters: Occur at tectonic plate interactions along fault lines; epicenters are directly above the earthquake's origin and are typically found near plate boundaries.
- Mountain Belts: Formed at convergent boundaries through the collision and crumpling of tectonic plates; notable examples are the Himalayas and Andes.
Plate Boundary Types
- Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create new crust (e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge).
- Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide, often leading to subduction; this results in volcanic activity and mountain formation (e.g., the Andes and Himalayas).
- Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other horizontally, causing stress that can result in earthquakes; a well-known example is the San Andreas Fault.
Geological Processes
- Subduction: Occurs at convergent boundaries with one plate sinking beneath another, leading to volcanic activity and trench formation.
- Sea-Floor Spreading: Takes place at divergent boundaries, where magma creates new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges.
- Faulting: Can happen along transform boundaries when accumulated stress leads to rocks breaking and slipping, resulting in earthquakes.
- Mountain Formation: Large mountain ranges develop at convergent boundaries through the collision of plates, with both rising and folding.
Causes of Plate Movement
- Mantle Convection: Heat from Earth's core generates convection currents in the mantle, driving plate movements.
- Ridge Push: Elevation of newly formed lithosphere at mid-ocean ridges causes gravitational sliding of plates away from ridges.
- Slab Pull: Pulling effect of denser, cold plate segments at subduction zones advances plate motion downward into the mantle.
Evidence for Plate Tectonics
- Fossil Distribution: Shared fossils of species like Mesosaurus found on distant continents suggest their prior connection.
- Fit of the Continents: Continental coastlines, especially Africa and South America, align like a jigsaw puzzle, indicating a historical supercontinent.
- Paleomagnetism: Changes in Earth's magnetic field recorded in rocks show shifts of magnetic poles over time, supporting sea-floor spreading.
- Concentration of Seismic Activity: Earthquakes and volcanoes cluster along tectonic boundaries, especially the Ring of Fire, illustrating active plate tectonics.
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