Plate Tectonics Overview

What is the primary composition of oceanic plates?

What occurs at a convergent plate boundary?

What type of crust is more likely to be associated with divergent plate boundaries?

Which term describes the study of the formation, movement, and destruction of the Earth's crust?

What is the Wadati–Benioff zone associated with?

Which of the following best describes the movement of tectonic plates at a transform boundary?

Which feature is most likely to form at convergent boundaries between oceanic and continental crust?

Why are earthquakes common along divergent boundaries?

What type of boundary is formed when two tectonic plates slide past one another?

Which geological feature is commonly associated with divergent plate boundaries?

What is the primary process occurring at a convergent boundary?

Which type of lithosphere is denser and primarily composed of basalt?

What type of plate movement occurs at a divergent boundary?

What does the term 'orogeny' refer to in relation to plate tectonics?

What geological activity is often caused by the movement of tectonic plates at a transform boundary?

What is the thickness of the lithospheric plates generally considered to be?

Plate Tectonics

Earth's outermost layer, the lithosphere, consists of rigid, slowly moving plates about 100km thick.
Plates are comprised of the crust and uppermost mantle and float on the molten magma of the mantle.
Oceanic plates, mostly basalt, are denser and heavier than continental plates, which are mainly granite.
Plate movement is responsible for the formation, building, and destruction of Earth's crust.
Plate movements lead to the following boundary types:
- Divergent Plate Boundaries: Plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create new oceanic crust.
- Convergent Plate Boundaries (aka destructive boundaries): Plates collide, causing one plate to slide beneath the other (subduction). This process generates features like:
  - Earthquakes along the Wadati–Benioff zone
  - Volcanism
  - Mountain building (orogenesis)
  - Destruction of lithosphere
  - Deformation of the crust

Major Plates

African Plate
Antarctic Plate
Eurasian Plate
Indo-Australian Plate
North American Plate
Pacific Plate
South American Plate

Minor Plates

Arabian Plate
Caribbean Plate
Cocos Plate
Juan de Fuca Plate
Indian Plate
Nazca Plate
Philippine Sea Plate
Scotia Plate

Plate Tectonics Basics

Earth's outermost layer, the lithosphere, is made up of rigid plates that move slowly.
These plates are about 100km thick and include the crust and upper mantle.
Plates float on the molten magma in the mantle and carry continents, oceans, or both.
Oceanic plates, made primarily of basalt, are denser and heavier than continental plates.
Continental plates are lighter and mainly composed of granite.

Plate Boundary Types

Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and create new oceanic crust.
- Earthquakes are common.
- The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example.
Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide, with one sliding beneath the other (subduction).
- This process leads to volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain formation (orogenesis), and destruction of the lithosphere.
- Occurs between various types of lithosphere: oceanic-oceanic, oceanic-continental, and continental-continental.
- Characterized by the Wadati–Benioff zone, a plane where many earthquakes occur.
Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other horizontally, creating faults.
- Earthquakes occur, but no volcanoes form.
- Crust is neither created nor destroyed.

Explore the fascinating world of plate tectonics in this quiz. Learn about the Earth's lithosphere, the different types of plate boundaries, and the major tectonic plates that shape our planet. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping the dynamic nature of Earth's surface.