What are constructive and destructive plate margins?
Constructive plate boundaries are when there are two plates moving apart from each other. Destructive plate boundaries are when oceanic and continental plates move together. In these places, the oceanic plate is forced, or subducted, under the continental plate.
Where is a constructive margin?
Constructive (tensional) plate margins occur where plates move apart. Examples below include the South American Plate and African Plate and the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate. Iceland was formed as the result of sea floor spreading in the North Atlantic.
What is constructive margin in science?
constructive margin (constructive boundary) The zone between two lithospheric plates which are diverging and consequently where new crust is being formed. Constructive plate margins are associated with shallow-focus earthquakes, high heat flow (up to ten times the average), and tholeiitic basalt (see THOLEIITE).
What does a constructive plate boundary cause?
At a constructive plate boundary – also known as a divergent plate boundary – the plates are moving apart from one another. When this happens, the magma from the mantle rises up to make (or construct) a new crust. The movement of the plates over the mantle can cause earthquakes.
Why are destructive margins called destructive margins?
These margins are called “destructive margins” since crust gets destroyed as the plates collide. If two continental plates collide then the crust ruptures and crumples up forming a mountain range such as the Himalayas (which are forming as the Indian plate slowly crashes into the Eurasian plate.)
What is an example of a constructive plate boundary?
Constructive plate boundary volcanoes At constructive plate boundaries, the tectonic plates are moving away from one another. The Earth’s crust is pulled apart to create a new pathway for rising hot magma to flow on to the surface. Volcanoes can sometimes form in these setting; one example is Iceland.
What plates are involved in constructive?
Constructive (tensional) plate margins occur where plates move apart. Examples below include the South American Plate and African Plate and the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate. Constructive boundaries are mainly located under the sea, e.g. the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
Are constructive plates oceanic or continental?
Constructive plate boundaries or margins are regions where new oceanic crust is being generated. However, in order for the magma to ascend to the surface and build new lithosphere, the earlier formed crust must be pulled apart and fractured to create a new magma pathway.
What are constructive plates?
At constructive plate boundaries, also known as divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move away from one another to produce volcanoes. Hot magma rises from the mantle at mid-ocean ridges, pushing the plates apart.
Where are constructive plates found?
What happens at destructive plate margin?
At a destructive plate boundary (also called convergent boundaries) two plates move towards another. One plate is then pushed underneath the other. (It is the heavier plate that is forced beneath the lighter plate). The point at which one plate is forced beneath the other is called the subduction zone.
Where are constructive plate boundaries?
Mid Atlantic Ridge
Constructive (tensional) plate margins occur where plates move apart. Examples below include the South American Plate and African Plate and the Eurasian Plate and North American Plate. Constructive boundaries are mainly located under the sea, e.g. the Mid Atlantic Ridge.