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What are Some Different Types of Tectonic Plate Boundaries?

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Tectonic plates are large, disconnected chunks of the Earth's crust, floating on the mantle below, composed of soft magma. Tectonic plates vary greatly in thickness depending on whether they are oceanic (about 5 km or 3 mi) or continental (about 50 km or 30 mi). Continental crust generally consists of lighter rocks, while oceanic crust consists of heavier rocks. This means that when an oceanic tectonic plate collides with a continental plate, it certain to slip under, or be subducted by, the continental plate.

There are three main types of tectonic plate boundaries, described in terms of the way that tectonic plates move relative to each other. These include transform boundaries, where plates grind parallel to each other, divergent boundaries, where plates are moving apart, and convergent boundaries, where plates press into and sometimes under each other. These plate boundaries result in faults, rift valleys, oceanic ridges, oceanic trenches, mountains, island arcs, subduction zones, volcanoes, and other geologic phenomena.

Mount Everest is formed at a tectonic plate boundary.
Mount Everest is formed at a tectonic plate boundary.

An example of a transform boundary between tectonic plates is the San Andreas Fault in California. Here, the Pacific Plate is moving northwest with respect to the North American Plate. Transform boundaries are often accompanied by earthquakes, caused when stress builds up between the plates and is released suddenly, in a matter of minutes or seconds. A primary quake may be followed by several aftershocks, smaller quakes which continue releasing crustal stress after the primary earthquake.

Subduction zones are formed when one tectonic plate moves beneath another; this often creates volcanos and causes earthquakes.
Subduction zones are formed when one tectonic plate moves beneath another; this often creates volcanos and causes earthquakes.

An example of a divergent boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the crust is splitting apart at a rate of about 5 cm (2 in) per year. It gets replaced by magma rising from beneath the crust and quickly solidifying, creating a series of ridges that gives the Mid-Atlantic Ridge its name. The island of Iceland is an example of a part of the ridge that sticks above the water.

Within a few days of an earthquake, the aftershocks could further damage structures already hit by the first quake.
Within a few days of an earthquake, the aftershocks could further damage structures already hit by the first quake.

An example of a convergent boundary is the Himalayas, which include the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Everest. Here, the Indian Plate is pushing northward into the Eurasian Plate, being subducted under it and causing it to lift. Because of this, the Himalayas are actually growing about an inch every year.

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Michael is a longtime AllTheScience contributor who specializes in topics relating to paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism. In addition to being an avid blogger, Michael is particularly passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. He has also worked for the Methuselah Foundation, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Lifeboat Foundation.

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Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Michael is a longtime AllTheScience contributor who specializes in topics relating to paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism. In addition to being an avid blogger, Michael is particularly passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. He has also worked for the Methuselah Foundation, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Lifeboat Foundation.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

FrameMaker

@ Scb99- Why is the mantle not completely composed of soft magma? I do not really understand geology too well, but from your explanation, I am guessing that the Athenosphere is made of a malleable hot mantle that is mostly solid because of pressure. Is my assumption correct?

How accurate was the representation of the mantle in the movie the core? In case you have not seen it is an older disaster movie that depicts the mantle as a somewhat solid mass, with some magma, large crystalline structures, and large pockets of gas.

scb99

Tectonic plates are large, disconnected chunks of the Earth's lithosphere (crust & rigid upper mantle) floating on the asthenosphere below, composed of plastic convecting mantle, with very small amounts of soft magma.

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    • Mount Everest is formed at a tectonic plate boundary.
      By: Göran (Kartläsarn)
      Mount Everest is formed at a tectonic plate boundary.
    • Subduction zones are formed when one tectonic plate moves beneath another; this often creates volcanos and causes earthquakes.
      By: Andrea Danti
      Subduction zones are formed when one tectonic plate moves beneath another; this often creates volcanos and causes earthquakes.
    • Within a few days of an earthquake, the aftershocks could further damage structures already hit by the first quake.
      By: ermess
      Within a few days of an earthquake, the aftershocks could further damage structures already hit by the first quake.
    • Tectonic plates float on magma.
      By: kmiragaya
      Tectonic plates float on magma.
    • Iceland contains tectonic plate boundaries.
      Iceland contains tectonic plate boundaries.