Plate Boundaries
Descriptions of the types of plate boundaries plus examples
- Created by: Basital
- Created on: 09-10-16 14:16
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- Plate Boundaries
- Constructive margin
- Occurs when two plates move away from each other
- Examples:
- The mid- Atlantic ocean ridge: North Atlantic - the North American plate vs the Eurasian plate, South Atlantic - the African plate vs the South American plate
- The Red Sea rift: the African plate vs the Arabian plate
- Destructive margin
- Occurs when an oceanic plate is forced under(or subducts) a continental plate
- Friction causes the melting of the oceanic plate and may cause earthquakes. Magma rises up through the gaps and erupts onto the surface
- Examples:
- The Andes: the Nazca plate vs the South American plate
- The Mariana trench: the Pacific plate vs the Mariana plate
- Occurs when an oceanic plate is forced under(or subducts) a continental plate
- Conservative margin
- Occurs when two plates slide past each other in opposite directions or at different speeds in the same direction.
- Friction is eventually overcome and the plates jolt past in a sudden movement. The shock waves created generate an earthquake
- Examples:
- The Alpine Fault: the Pacific plate vs the Indo-Australian plate
- The San Andreas Fault: the North American plate vs the Pacific plate
- Occurs when two plates slide past each other in opposite directions or at different speeds in the same direction.
- Collision margin
- Occurs when two continental plates move towards each other
- Neither plate is forced under the other, so both of them are forced upwards and form fold mountains
- Examples:
- The Himalayas: the Indian plate vs the Eurasian plate
- The Southern Alps: the Pacific plate vs the Indo-Australian plate
- Occurs when two continental plates move towards each other
- Constructive margin
- Examples:
- The mid- Atlantic ocean ridge: North Atlantic - the North American plate vs the Eurasian plate, South Atlantic - the African plate vs the South American plate
- The Red Sea rift: the African plate vs the Arabian plate
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