Historical Geology

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http//www.geophysics.rice.edu/plateboundary/ Wh
ere are the Earths tectonic plates and their
boundaries? What happens at plate
boundaries? How do Earth scientists classify
plate boundaries?
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Part 1.

• Identify the patterns of your area of expertise
  volcanology, seismology, geography, geochronology
  - AT PLATE BOUNDARIES
• Describe what you observe do not interpret what
  you see, just describe the patterns
• Wide or narrow, straight or curved, symmetric or
  not symmetric, deep or shallow, ridge or valley,
  active or inactive
• Identify 3-5 boundary types color each on your
  transparency define in words

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Part 2.

• Bring together areas of expertise volcanology,
  seismology, geography, geochronology
• Correlate your data sets what collective
  patterns emerge?
• Identify 3-5 boundary types color each on a
  master transparency define in words

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Part 3.

• Describe the different types of boundaries
• What patterns were related in the different data
  sets?

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Plate BoundariesWhere Stuff Happens
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Plate Tectonics

• The upper mechanical layer of Earth (lithosphere)
  is divided into rigid plates that move away,
  toward, and along each other
• Most (!) geologic action occurs at plate
  boundaries in DISTINCT patterns

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Compositional
Physical / Mechanical
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1. Divergent Boundaries

• Volcanic activity in fissures, some volcanos
• Shallow earthquakes, on plate boundary
• Young crust, symmetrical around boundary
• Ridge
• Rocks?

Mid- Atlantic Ridge
North American Plate
Eurasian Plate
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Nazca Plate
South American Plate
Antarctic Plate
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Andes Mountains
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2. Convergent Boundaries (a) Ocean-continent
convergence

• Volcanos tight, parallel boundary, landward
• Shallow to deep earthquakes
• Age varies on one side of the boundary not
  symmetrical
• Trench, mountain chain
• Rocks?

Andes Mountains
Peru-Chile Trench
South American Plate
Nazca Plate
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2. Convergent Boundaries (b) Ocean-ocean
convergence

• Volcanos tightly spaced, parallel boundary, arc
• Shallow to deep earthquakes
• Age varies on one side of the boundary not
  symmetrical
• Trench, volcanic island chain
• Rocks?

Mariana Islands
Marianas Trench
Philippine Plate
Pacific Plate
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Eurasian Plate
Indian Plate
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Himalaya Mountains
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Tibetan Plateau
Mt. Everest
Himalayan Mtns.
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2. Convergent Boundaries (c) Continent-continent
convergence

• Volcanos rare, dispersed
• Shallow (to medium) dispersed earthquakes
• No age data
• High mountain chain
• Rocks?

Himalayan Mountains
Tibetan Plateau
Indian-Australian Plate
Eurasian Plate
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3. Transform-Fault Boundaries

• Volcanos dispersed, most on one side
• Earthquakes complex, shallow (to medium) on both
  sides
• Age data not symmetrical, one side of boundary
• Complex topography, wide mountains and basins
• Rocks?

Pacific Plate
North American Plate
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Plate Tectonics

• The upper mechanical layer of Earth (lithosphere)
  is divided into rigid plates that move away,
  toward, and along each other
• Most (!) geologic action occurs at plate
  boundaries in DISTINCT patterns

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Whats Driving Plate Tectonics on Earth?
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Its all about convection and heat
(loss)! Vigorous convection drives plate tectonics
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And for the rest of the week

• What features do you expect to see on other
  planets if plate tectonics processes are active?
• What does this tell you about the interior of the
  planet?

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• What skills did you use in undertaking this
  activity?
• Historical use
• How might you use it in your classroom?
• What might you modify?