Gaddi, Josel Ian S.

CONVERGENT BOUNDARY
FOCUS - Point or origin of an earthquake.
- Two plates collide with each other.
EPICENTER - Directly above the focus.
- One plate will push upward and will form into a
mountain ranges.
MAGNITUDE - The amount of energy released by an
Earthquake.

INTENSITY - The damage done after a strong

Earthquake.

PLATE BOUNDARIES - These are the movements of

two plates that collide with each other that can form
into a mountain ranges.
3 TYPES OF CONVERGENT BOUNDARY
PLATE TECTONICS
- Lithosphere consists of crust and the upper portion 1. Oceanic-Continental Convergence
of the mantle. - One plate dives under another.
- These are known as SUBDUCTION ZONES– Mountains
- The plates move very slowly but constantly, and this
and volcanoes are often found where the plates
movement is called tectonics.
converge.

TWO TYPES OF
CRUST
SUBDUCTION
- sinking of plate beneath the other plate.
- Because of the subduction process, a depression
on the ocean floor
called trench is also formed.

One of the consequences of moving crustal plates

which is crucial in studying plate tectonics:
Earthquake.

3 TYPES OF SEISMIC WAVES 2. Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence

- Two oceanic plates converge, one is usually
- PRIMARY (P-WAVES) subducted under the other and a deep oceanic
- SECONDARY (S-WAVES) trench is formed.
- LONG SURFACE WAVES (L-WAVES)

If we have at least three recording stations that can

tell how far away from them the earthquake
occurred, the epicenter can be determined using
the triangulation method.

As the plate moves deeper into the mantle, it carries

with water which also causes the melting of rocks.

3. Continental-Continental Convergence
- Two continental plates collide with each other.
- One plate will be pushed upward and will form into
a mountain range.

TYPES OF PLATE BOUNDARIES

Studying plate boundaries is important because

along these boundaries deformation of the
lithosphere is happening.

There are three distinct types of plate boundaries:

Convergent, Divergent, Transform Fault boundary.
 DIVERGENT BOUNDARY
- When a new continental or oceanic crust is formed
as one or more plates move away from each other.
TRANSFORM FAULT BOUNDARY
- Where two plates slide past with each other.
- The best example of this plate boundary is the San
Andreas fault.
TECTONIC PROCESSES:
THEORIES AND PLATE BOUNDARIES
CONTINENTAL DRIFT THEORY
- Movement of the earth’s continents, changing their
positions relative to one another.
In 1921 Alfred Lothar Wegener proposed the
existence of supercontinent called Pangaea.
Suggested that the continents were all originally part
of huge landmass and had been spilt apart.
He noticed the close correlation of the coastline
shapes of Eastern South America and Western
Africa.
EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE THEORY
- DISTRIBUTION OF ANCIENT FOSSILS
- GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS
- MINERALS
DISTRIBUTION OF ANCIENT FOSSILS
- They found out that the deposits fossil remains of a
certain plant species in Argentina, Brazil, South
Africa, Antarctica, India, and Australia follow in the
same succession.
GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS
- Wegener said that all continents are moving apart.
He noticed that Africa and South America fit
together almost like pieces in a giant jigsaw puzzle.
He thought that all the continents might fit together.
Rock formations from Africa and South America are
of the same age and type.
PLATE TECTONIC THEORY SUPPORTED BY THE
FOLLOWING EVIDENCES:
- Paleomagnetism or fossil magnetism – refers to fossil
(especially rocks) formed million years ago contain
record of the magnetic poles at the time of
their formation. A study of rock magnetism.
- Distribution of Earthquakes – Earthquakes often
occur along faults. Faults are breaks in a rock mass
where plate movement has occurred, associated
with plate boundaries.
PLATE BOUNDARIES
- Is a fracture separating one plate from another, the
region where plates meet. All major interactions
among the individual plates occur along their
boundaries.
There are three distinct types of boundaries based
on the type of movement. These are:
Convergent Boundary, Divergent Boundary, and
Transform Boundary
CONVERGENT BOUNDARY
- Occurs when two plates move toward each other.
Convergent boundaries are also subduction zone.
I. Oceanic-continental convergence - forms
trenches, destructive earthquakes, uplift of mountain
ranges, and building of volcanic arc.
II. Oceanic-oceanic convergence - forms trenches
(Marianas Trench) and volcanic arc.
III. Continental-continental convergence - forms STRUCTURE OF EARTH
mountain ranges like Himalayan trench.
KEY TERMS:
DIVERGENT BOUNDARY TECTONIC - The geological study of the Earth’s
structure.
- Occurs when two plates move away. Most
divergent boundaries occur along the crest of THE EARTH’S CRUST - The outer layer of the Earth
oceanic ridges. Divergent can also occur within a consisting of solidified rocky plates.
continent forming a rift.
MANTLE - The layer of molten rock which the crust
TRANSFORM FAULT BOUNDARY floats on top of.

- Occurs when plates slide horizontally past one CORE - The centre of the Earth is very hot and made
another. Most within the ocean basin, but there are of metal.
a few that can be found in continental plates.
EARTH IS MADE OF SEVERAL DISTINCT LAYERS SIMILAR
OCEAN BASIN: TO AN EGG:
EVOLUTION AND CHARACTERISTICS
EGG SHELL – EARTH’S CRUST
- Continental Shelf – is a relatively shallow gently EGG WHITE – MANTLE
sloping part of the continental crust that borders the EGG YOLK – CORE (INNER AND OUTER)
continent. (Average depth of 130 m with a maximum
width about 1300 km.

- Continental slope – after continental shelf, leads to

deep water. (Presence of submarine canyons).
- Continental break – boundary between
continental shelf and slope.
THE CRUST
- Continental rise – more gradual incline, links the - The uppermost layer of earth is called crust.
deep ocean basin floor to the continental slope.
ON THIS BASIS CRUST IS DIVIDED INTO TWO TYPES:

- CONTINENTAL CRUST
- OCEANIC CRUST
- Seismic waves travel faster in oceanic crust than in
continental crust.

- Seismic P waves travel through oceanic crust at

SEAFLOOR SPREADING
- Horizontal movement of two plates away from
each other is believed to be the reason why a new
ocean seafloor is formed.
- The movements of the plates are caused by the
convection inside the earth’s mantle
about 7km/s & about 6km/s through continental
crust
BY SEISMIC STUDY EARTH HAS FOLLOWING LAYERS:
1. THE CRUST –
Continental crust and Oceanic crust

- Harold Hamond Hess called this process SEA-FLOOR 2. THE MANTLE -

SPREADING. Upper mantle and Lower mantle

- Molten material, magnetic stripes and drilling 3. THE CORE

samples supported Hess’s theory.
Hot magma rises at the rift of the mid-ocean ridge.
The magma cools down and form into another sea
floor.
The force responsible for driving or moving the plates
is CONVECTION CURRENTS. Convection Currents
occur within the mantle of the Earth when hot
magma rises and cool magma sinks.
- The Theory of Plate Tectonics helps explain the
formation and destruction of the Earth’s crust and its
movement over time.
- Scientists believe that the plates’ movement is due
to convection currents
in the mantle.
- Outer core - Liquid
- Inner core - Solid
MANTLE
- It is solid and is separated into an upper and lower
mantle.
- The next layer below the crust is mantle.
- Its thickness extended to a depth of 2890km.
- It is denser than crust.
The mantle is made of a number of molten metals
such as iron, magnesium, aluminum and oxygen.
LITHOSPHERE
- The combination of uppermost mantle and crust is
called the lithosphere.
-The tectonic plates are, in. fact, lithospheric plate.
 THE CORE
- The central or innermost portion of earth below the
mantle is core.
- It lies at depth of 2900km up to 6370km
- The core is divided into two layers.
OUTER CORE:
- The outer core begins at a depth of 2,890 to 5,150
km. The temperature at outer core is about 3700˚C.
INNER CORE:
- The inner section begins at a depth of 5,150 to
6,360km. The temperature of inner core is about
4300˚C.
What do you think the core is made of?
- THE CORE IS MAINLY MADE OF IRON.
What sort of temperature do you think the core is?
- THE CORE IS THE HOTTEST PART.
PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS ALONG WITH
CONVERGENCE OF PLATES
When two oceanic crusts collide with each other,
they can form an ISLAND ARC.
Collision and subduction process of plates is a new
process. Large powerful EARTHQUAKES are another
phenomena that result from this type on interaction.
TSUNAMI is huge ocean waves by the sudden shift of
the ocean floor such as an UNDER-SEA EARTHQUAKE.
A collision in two continental plates crunches and
folds the rock on the boundary lifting and leading to
the formation of MOUNTAIN RANGES.
When there’s an VOLANIC ERUPTION, the grounds
moves and so an earthquake is felt.
What will happen when two oceanic crusts collide?
- TSUNAMI OR TRENCH/ISLAND ARC
What will happen when two continental crusts
collide?
- EARTHQUAKE OR MOUNTAIN RANGES
SUBDUCTION is a process by which a plate dives
under the less dense plate.
When an oceanic crust converges along with the
continental crust, a crack between the crust
underwater called TRENCH is formed.
Converging continental crust or plate results in a
collision zone, which could cause a shallow
EARTHQUAKE.
THE THEORY OF PLATE TECTONICS BOUNDARIES,
STRESSES, AND FAULTS
What are Plates?
- The Earth’s crust and upper mantle (Lithosphere)
are broken into section called PLATES.
Plates move around on the top of the mantle like
rafts.
A section of the lithosphere that slowly moves over
the asthenosphere, carrying pieces of continental
and oceanic crust
What is the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
- The theory that pieces of Earth’s lithosphere are in
constant motion, driven by convection currents in
the mantle.
- Plate moves slowly in different directions
- Cause different geological events (like earthquake
and volcano, etc.)
What makes the plates move?
- Convection Currents in the mantle move the plates
as the core heats the slowly flowing asthenosphere
(the elastic/plastic like part of the mantle).
PLATE BOUNDARIES
- The edge of Earth’s plates meets at plate
boundaries.
- Extended deep into the lithosphere.
FAULT – Breaks in Earth’s crust where rocks have
slipped past each other.
A different type of plate movement occurs along
each type of boundary.
DIVERGENT BOUNDARY
- A plate boundary where two plates move away
from each other.
RIFTING CAUSES SEAFLOOR SPREADING
How is the rock pulled at Divergent Boundaries?
- Rock gets THIN in the middle as it is pulled apart.
This STRESS is called TENSION
What happens when the rock SNAPS from the Stress
of Tension?
- A Normal Fault (fault is a break in earth’s crust.
- Rock drops down as it breaks.
What happen next at Divergent Boundaries?
- A geological feature or event…
- May form RIFT VALLEYS on continents and SEA-
FLOOR SPREADING in the ocean.
Helpful hints…

- Divergent is like “dissecting or “dividing”

- If you pull warm bubble gum or silly putty, it will thin
in the middle until it is stressed so much it breaks.
- Happens on LAND and UNDER H20

FEATURES OF DIVERGENT BOUNDARIES

- MID-OCEAN RIDGES
- RIFT VALLEY
- FISSURE VOLCANOES

How is the rock pushed at convergent boundaries?

- A plate boundaries where two plates move

towards each other.
- Boundaries between two plates that are colliding.

This stress is called COMPRESSION.

CONVERGENT BOUNDARY

- Places where plates crash (or crunch) together or

subduct (one sinks under).

SUBDUCTION ZONE: The process by which oceanic

crust sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back
into the mantle at a convergent plate boundary.

VOLCANOES OCCURS AT SUBDUCTION ZONE

What happen when the rock is squeezed from the

Stress of Compression?

- A Reverse Fault
- Rock is force upward as it is squeezed.

Helpful hints…

- Convergent = “Connecting” boundaries

- May work like a trash compactor smashing rock.

TRANSFORM BOUNDARIES

- A plate boundary where two plates move past

each other in opposite direction.

How is the rock broken at Transform Boundaries?

- Rock is pushed in two opposite directions (or

sideways, but no rock is lost).
- This stress is called SHEARING
- May cause Earthquakes when the rock snaps from
pressure
- San Andreas Fault, CA – Famous fault

What happens when the rock is sheared (or cut)

from the Stress of Shearing?

- A Strike- Slip Fault

- Rocks on each other side of the fault slip past each
other as they break.

Helpful hints…

- Shearing means cutting (Shears are like scissors).

- Transform boundaries run like trains going past each
in different directions and they shake the ground!