Plate Tectonics Evolution of Continents, Ocean Basins, Mountains Continental Margins

Plate Margins - Where Stuff Happens..

Divergent

Convergent

Transform

Relative Movements of Plates

a) Divergent, (b) Convergent-continent/ocean basin, transform, (d) convergent-continent/continent

Plate Boundaries
Seismic activity Volcanic activity Mountain building

Ocean-Ocean Divergent Margin

Mid Ocean Ridges - long, sinuous ridge system, central rift valley New ocean crust Active volcanism Shallow earthquakes < 100 km Rounded Pillow basalts Ridge offset by transform faults

Ocean-Ocean Divergent Margin

Lava fountains (10 m high) spouting from eruptive fissures during the October 1980 eruption of Krafla Volcano.

 MOR cools by: Conduction Convection - cold sea water circulates Hydro-thermal springs - >350C Circulating waters rich in H2S, SiO2, Mn, CO2, H2, CH4, K, Ca, etc. Precipitate - form black / white smokers

Adaptations to Vents Hydrogen-sulfide- (H2S) oxidizing bacteria - base of food chain

Pillow Basalts
Hot magma cools quickly in cold ocean water

ContinentContinent Divergent Margin

ACTIVE - Red Sea began ~10 Ma INACTIVE - East African Rift Zone; parts up to 20 Ma Example of stable triple junction - 3 breaks. One arm fails

http://earthview.sdsu.edu/trees/tecqest.htm

 Rio Grande Trough (USA) and African Rift Valley - < 100 km deep Volcanism - basaltic and rhyolitic

Continent-Continent Divergent Margin

Oldoinyo Lengai, active volcano in the East African Rift Zone

Seafloor Spreading at Mid-Ocean Ridges

Sediment accumulation increases away from ridge - pelagic rain

Depth of crust increases away from ridge

Age of crust increases away from ridge

Sea Floor Age (less than 200 Ma)

How Do Divergent Margins Develop?

DOMING High heat flow, thermal expansion of crust - few km high / 1000s km across. High, dry climate RIFTING Normal faults accommodate stretch NO ocean crust Possible formation of triple junction High, dry climate: non-marine sandstones, conglomerates in basin East African Rift Zone DRIFTING Crust thins and initial intrusion of basalts as new seafloor Shallow ocean; high evaporation Later normal marine sediment Drainage reverses in to the sea. Gulf of California (5 Ma) Red Sea (10 Ma)

Convergent Boundaries
Plate Boundaries where plates are moving together .. or converging
High seismicity to depths of 700 km Volcanism and/or metamorphism Areas of continental accretion / growth Subduction of crust / mountain building

Types: Ocean to ocean and ocean to continent Continent to continent

Types of Convergence Ocean-Ocean, Ocean-Continent, and Continent-Continent

Seismic Activity Along Descending Plate

Ocean - Continent Collision

Oceanic crust more dense than continental crust

Continental margin / Volcanic Arc Deep trench on ocean side; Fore arc attached to continental crust Volcanoes - mountain range parallel to / 300-400 km from trench High volcanic activity- Andesitic High seismic activity; earthquake foci 0 to 700 km deep
W margin of North / South America

Andes and Cascades

Components:
Oceanic plate Trench Fore-arc ridge (melange) Fore-arc basin Continental plate with volcanic mountain range (e.g. Andes)

The Ring of Fire- Volcanics associated with Pacific plate boundaries

Mountain Building-e.g. the Andes

Ocean to Ocean Collision

Two plates of same thickness (? Age/temperature) Which one wins? Deep trench on ocean side Arcuate line of islands ~100 Km land ward from trench - Island Arc Zone is long and narrow (1000s Km x 200-300 Km) High volcanic activity- Andesitic High seismic activity; earthquake foci 0 to 700 km deep

Aleutian Trench Marianas Trench (10,860 m deep) Tonga Trench (10,800 m deep) Lesser Antilles

Components:
Oceanic plate Trench Fore-arc ridge (melange) Fore-arc basin, Island arc Back-arc basin (down-going plate melts / accom. of spreading)
Skinner and Porter, 2000

Continent to Continent Collision

Two pieces of continental crust of equal - light density Neither subducts; mountain building, continental accretion Australia/India and Eurasia - Himalayas Africa and Europe - Alps (early Mesozoic) Africa and North America Appalachians (Paleozoic)

Building Continental Material Precambrian Shields