Plate Boundaries

DESTRUCTIVE BOUNDARIES

This boundary is where an oceanic plate meets a continental plate. Oceanic plates are denser than continental plates, so are pushed/pulled underneath in a process known as subduction. A destructive boundary can be found along the west coast of South America.

CONSTRUCTIVE BOUNDERIES

These boundaries are where the plates are moving apart, allowing magma to escape between them onto the Earth's surface as lava. When the lava cools, it forms new land. An example of a constructive plate boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

COLLISION BOUNDARIES

This boundary is where two continental plates meet and push together, creating fold mountains. The plates do not sink into the mantle as both are made from relatively light rock. An example is where the Indo-Australian plate meets the Eurasian plate in Nepal, forming the Himalayas.

CONSERVATIVE BOUNDARIES

This boundary is where two plates are sliding past each other. An example of a conservative boundary is the San Andreas Fault, which runs along the west coast of North America.