Plate Boundries
by, Maddie Scheerer
Convergent Plate Boundaries
-Ocean to Continental-
Ocean to Continental plate boundaries are very similar to ocean to ocean plate boundaries. When the continental plate and the oceanic plate collide the oceanic plate is sucked beneath the continental plate into the mantle (subduction zone). Materials in the subduction zone reach their melting point at about 100 miles (160 km)
-Ocean to Ocean-
Ocean to ocean plate boundaries are also known as Subduction zones. This is where one plate is sucked beneath another plate. After this occurs, an ocean trench is visible so you can see where the plate was sub-ducted into the mantle. Often times these plates create volcanoes.
-Continental to Continental-
Unlike the Ocean to Ocean and Ocean to Continental plate boundaries Continental to continental cannot sub duct. They are too buoyant. Instead, they go up and create mountains. Also, as you can imagine, 2 large slabs of rocks crashing together are bound to cause a disturbance. Continental to Continental plate boundaries colliding are often the cause of earthquakes.
Divergent Plate Boundaries
Ocean Ridge Boundary
With a length of 60,000 km, The Ocean Ridge Boundary or, Mid-Ocean Ridge, is by far the longest mountain range in the world. The Mid-Ocean Ridge connects to all the oceans on the globe. It was created when two divergent plate boundaries separated.
Land Rift Valley
When two continental plates diverge a rift valley is formed. Long lakes, rivers, and streams are created when a rift formation begins. Eventually, the rift becomes so thin that one plate breaks off the other. The Arabia plate separating from the African plate is an example of this.
Transform Boundaries
Transform boundaries are where two plates slide against each other. Linear valleys along the boundary where the rock has been ground up marks the transform boundaries. In other places Transform boundaries are also marked by streams and rivers. Transform boundaries are often the cause of large earthquakes.