Tectonics Flashcards
How thick is the crust?
5-70km
How thick is the lithosphere?
100km
How thick is the mantle?
2900km
How thick is the outer core?
2250km
How thick is the inner core?
1200km
Describe oceanic crust
Dense, thin (6-10km), forms ocean floors
Describe continental crust
Less dense, thick (45-50km), makes up land mass
Describe the mantle
The upper mantle is solid, which along with crust makes up the lithosphere. Below is semi-molten rock which forms the asthenosphere.
Describe the outer core
Semi-molten, mostly liquid iron and nickel, 4500-6000°C
Describe the inner core
Solid centre, mostly iron, 6000°C at hottest point
How many tectonic plates are there?
7 major and 7 minor
What are the 4 types of plate boundaries?
Divergent (constructive)
Convergent (destructive)
Convergent (collision)
Conservative (transform)
What is formed at a divergent plate boundary?
-Submarine (underwater) volcanoes
-Shield volcanoes
-Mild, shallow earthquakes
-Mid-ocean ridge chains with transform faults
-Rift valleys
Why do major earthquakes occur at convergent margins?
Constant subduction of oceanic crust causing friction. Friction causes pressure to build and the pressure is released in the form of a megathrust earthquake up to 9.0M in the Benioff zone.
Describe the lava at a divergent (constructive)
sheild volcano?
Basaltic- runny, thin, low in silica
Describe the lava at a convergent (destructive)
composite volcano?
Andesitic- thick, sticky, gas + silica filled
(made of crust)
At convergent (destructive) boundaries, why are there explosive volcanoes?
Magma pushes through faults
At convergent (destructive) plate boundaries, what 2 other features are formed?
Ocean trenches + fold mountains
What happens at convergent (collision) plate boundaries?
There is a subduction of the slightly denser plate, creating a thrust fault
What is formed/occurs at convergent (collision) plate boundaries between 2 oceanic plates?
Deep ocean trenches, submarine volcanoes, shallow-deep focus earthquakes
What is formed/occurs at convergent (collision) plate boundaries between 2 continental plates?
High fold mountains and shallow focus earthquakes
What happens at a conservative (transform) plate boundaries? Give an eg
No volcanoes, but plates slide past each other and stick, creating high pressure and resulting in a powerful, shallow-focus earthquake.
Eg: LA 1994 6.7M
Where are 70% of the world’s earthquakes and 75% of the world’s volcanoes located?
The pacific ring of fire
Where does intra-plate tectonic activity occur?
In the middle of plates, not on the boundary