Science: Types of Plate Boundaries

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Questions and Answers

What primarily forms volcanic mountain ranges at the surface during magma rise?

Continental plates converging (correct)

Erosion of existing mountains

Transform fault movements

Oceanic plates colliding

What is a characteristic of continental-continental convergence?

Intense deformation and fold-mountain construction (correct)

Subduction of high-density crust

Creation of volcanic island arcs

Formation of ocean basins

Which type of transform boundary is the most abundant?

Ridge-ridge transform fault (correct)

Trench-trench transform fault

Ridge-trench transform fault

Triple junction

What connection do ridge-trench transform faults provide?

Connection between divergent and converging plates Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about the densities of continental plates?

They have a low density of approximately 2.7 g/cm^3. Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates the concept of a triple junction?

Afar depression Signup and view all the answers

What describes trench-trench transform boundaries?

They couple trenches at two different convergent plate boundaries. Signup and view all the answers

What notation is used by geologists to classify triple junctions?

RRR, TTT, FFF Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature is formed as a result of divergent plate boundaries?

Rift valleys Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes oceanic-to-oceanic convergence?

One plate is completely subducted beneath another. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process that occurs when oceanic crust is subducted under continental crust?

Development of ocean trenches Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes transform plate boundaries?

Plates slide past one another horizontally Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of marine trenches?

Oceanic-continental convergence Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the density of plates at divergent boundaries as they move away from the hot spreading center?

They increase in density and mass. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common result of convergence between two continental plates?

Mountain ranges Signup and view all the answers

Which type of plate boundary is also known as 'constructive plate boundaries'?

Divergent boundaries Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Plate Boundaries Overview

Plate boundaries represent the borders between tectonic plates, influencing geological activity.
The concepts of continental drift and sea floor spreading underpin the understanding of plate tectonics, first attributed to Harry Hess and Robert Dietz.

Types of Plate Boundaries

Convergent Plate Boundaries (Destructive)
- Plates move toward each other; can create subduction zones or orogenic belts.
Divergent Plate Boundaries (Constructive)
- Plates move apart, forming rifts or gaps, leading to the creation of new crust as magma rises and solidifies.
- Mid-ocean ridges are formed underwater; rift valleys can emerge on land.
- Example: Great East African Rift Valley spans Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Transform Plate Boundaries (Conservative)
- Plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes without forming mountains or volcanoes.

Types of Convergent Boundaries

Oceanic-to-Oceanic Convergence
- Two oceanic plates collide, leading to one being subducted, forming deep sea trenches and volcanic island arcs.
- Example: Formation of the Hawaiian Islands.
Oceanic-to-Continental Convergence
- Oceanic crust is denser and always subducts beneath continental crust, creating oceanic trenches and volcanic mountain ranges like the Andes and Cascades.
Continental-to-Continental Convergence
- Both plates are less dense, causing minimal subduction. Intense deformation leads to the formation of fold mountains.
- Example: Himalayan mountain range.

Types of Transform Boundaries

Ridge-Ridge Transform Fault
- Connects segments of divergent boundaries; most common type. Shearing movement occurs with displacement along ridges.
- Example: Fault at the Dead Sea.
Ridge-Trench Transform Fault
- Connects a ridge to a trench; less common but significant in connecting spreading and converging plates.
- Example: Queen Charlotte Island Fault near Canada.
Trench-Trench Transform Boundaries
- Links two trenches at separate convergent plate boundaries; rare occurrence.
- Example: Alpine Fault in New Zealand.

Triple Junctions

Points where three plate boundaries meet, indicating interactions between ridges, trenches, and transform faults.
Notational system:
- R (ridge): plates moving apart.
- T (trench): plates moving together.
- F (fault): all plates moving horizontally.
Example: Afar Depression triple junction in the East African Rift system.

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Description

Explore the various types of plate boundaries in tectonic science. This quiz delves into concepts like sea floor spreading and continental drift, highlighting the characteristics of convergent and divergent boundaries. Test your understanding and knowledge of these fundamental geological processes.