Geology Plate Boundaries Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is formed when a continental plate collides with another continental plate?

Trenches

Subduction zones

Collision zones (correct)

Mid-ocean ridges

What process is indicated by an oceanic plate sinking beneath another oceanic plate?

Rifting

Collisional tectonics

Transform faulting

Subduction (correct)

Which geological feature is associated with divergent plate boundaries?

Rift valleys (correct)

Volcanoes

Mountain ranges

Earthquakes

What type of fault occurs when the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall?

Normal fault Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary results in two plates sliding past each other?

Transform boundary Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a thrust fault?

A type of reverse fault with a dip of 45° or less Signup and view all the answers

What geological phenomenon is created by the rising of magma from the ocean floor at divergent boundaries?

New crust Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of earthquakes at transform boundaries?

Rock snapping from pressure Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of evidence geologists use to learn about Earth's interior?

Direct evidence from rock samples Signup and view all the answers

Geologists can directly observe Earth's interior.

False Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main layers of Earth?

Crust, mantle, core Signup and view all the answers

The layer beneath the Earth's crust is called the ______.

mantle Signup and view all the answers

What types of rocks primarily make up the oceanic crust?

Basalt Signup and view all the answers

What are the two parts of the Earth's core?

Liquid outer core and solid inner core Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'lithosphere' refer to?

The outer layer of Earth made up of rocks Signup and view all the answers

What is the asthenosphere?

A soft layer of the mantle Signup and view all the answers

P waves are known as ______ waves.

primary Signup and view all the answers

S waves are also known as ______ waves.

secondary Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Plate Boundaries

Convergent boundaries form where two tectonic plates collide.
Types of convergent boundaries include:
- Oceanic-Continental: Oceanic plate subducts under a continental plate, forming trenches.
- Oceanic-Oceanic: The denser oceanic plate subducts under another oceanic plate, creating subduction zones.
- Continental-Continental: Two continental plates collide, resulting in mountain formation in collision zones.

Collision Zones

Collision zones are characterized by folded and thrust-faulted mountains.
A subduction zone occurs when oceanic crust sinks back into the mantle at convergent boundaries, leading to deep-ocean trenches.

Divergent Boundaries

Divergent boundaries occur where two plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create new crust.
Causes of divergent boundaries include the formation of mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, new crust, and volcanoes.

Volcanic Activity

In Iceland, lava from the ocean floor rises and cools to form new crust, creating rift valleys.
Iceland has approximately 130 volcanoes, with eruptions typically occurring every 5 to 10 years.
The East African Rift Valley is an example of a continental rift valley, indicating where the continental lithosphere is weakening and stretching.

Transform Boundaries

Transform boundaries occur when tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, potentially causing earthquakes from accumulated pressure.
The San Andreas Fault in California is a well-known transform fault.

Fault Types

Fault movements can be classified as:
- Dip-slip: Movement along the fault plane; can be normal (hanging wall moves down) or reverse (hanging wall moves up).
- Strike-slip: Horizontal movement along the fault, defines a strike-slip fault.
- Thrust fault: A reverse fault with a dip angle of 45° or less.
- Oblique slip: A combination of both strike-slip and dip-slip movements.

Fault Mechanics

Dip refers to the steepness of the fault surface measured from Earth's surface.
The hanging wall is the block above the fault plane, while the footwall is below it.

Exploring Inside Earth

Geologists study Earth's interior using direct evidence from rock samples and indirect evidence from seismic waves.
Rocks can be forced to the surface from depths over 100 km, providing insight into Earth's internal structure.

Seismic Waves and Earth's Layers

Earthquakes generate seismic waves that geologists record, revealing information about Earth's composition through their speed and behavior.
Seismic waves indicate that Earth has several concentric layers: the thin outer crust, the mantle, the liquid outer core, and the solid inner core.
P waves (primary waves) are the fastest seismic waves, while S waves (secondary waves) arrive later.

Earth's Main Layers

The three primary layers of Earth are:
- Crust: The layer of solid rock forming Earth's outer skin, includes oceanic crust (basalt) and continental crust (granite).
- Mantle: Composed of hot, solid rock, nearly 3000 km thick, divided into the lithosphere and asthenosphere based on characteristics.
- Core: Comprised mainly of iron and nickel, consisting of a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.

Detailed Composition of Layers

Crust:
- Oceanic crust: Thinner, mostly basalt, dark and fine textured.
- Continental crust: Thicker, primarily granite, light in color and coarse textured.
Mantle:
- Lithosphere: Rigid layer formed by the uppermost part of the mantle and crust.
- Asthenosphere: Soft layer beneath the lithosphere, still solid but under pressure and temperature increases.
Core:
- Outer core: Molten metal layer surrounding the inner core, remains liquid due to intense pressure.
- Inner core: Solid dense ball of metal where extreme pressure prevents iron and nickel from becoming liquid.

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Description

Test your knowledge on different types of plate boundaries! This quiz covers the interactions between oceanic and continental plates, including subduction zones and collision zones. Dive into the fascinating world of geology and discover how these processes shape our planet.