DANIEL ALCIDES CARRIÓN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF GEOLOGICAL
ENGINEERING

TOPIC: Tectonic Plates

TEACHER: MUÑOZ FERNANDEZ,

Neftali Euiclides

STUDENT: CRUZ QUISPE, Gianmarco

SEMESTER: III
 PLACAS
TECTONICAS LITOSFERA

It is a theory that explains

that the Earth's
lithosphere (together with
the upper mantle), is Like the crust, the Solid outer layer of the
divided into pieces of lithosphere is divided Earth, composed of the
various sizes and The lithosphere is into 2 main parts, the upper part of the solid
thickness and that move divided into 15 major continental lithosphere mantle and the earth's
on the asthenosphere. tectonic plates: North and the oceanic crust; These are the two
America, Caribbean, lithosphere. outermost layers in the
South America, Scotland, The continental internal structure of the
Antarctica, Eurasia, lithosphere comprises the Earth.
Arabia, Africa, India, the continental crust and a The lithosphere is limited
Philippines, Australia, part of the upper mantle, by the previous
Earth can be compared to a Pacific, Juan de Fuca, while the oceanic atmosphere and the
moving puzzle. Cocos, and Nazca. lithosphere comprises the asthenosphere (viscous
oceanic crust and a part layer of the upper
of the upper mantle. mantle).

It is used to explain
volcanism, seismicity, as
well as various other
terrestrial processes.
CONTINENTAL DRIFT THEORY 1912:
In 1912 Alfred Wegener enunciated the theory of continental drift
The continents can be moved, 300 m.a. ago. there was only one continent Pangea
PROOF ON WHICH THE THEORY IS BASED:
 Geographic Evidence: the outline of the continents match like the pieces of a puzzle.
 Geological tests: continuity in the geological formations and materials of the different continents.
 Paleontological evidence: There are fossil deposits that coincide on the continents that were
previously united.
 Paleoclimatic tests: The distribution of ancient climates (studied by fossil pollen) coincides if the
continents were together.
WHY TECTONIC PLATES MOVE?

Plates are moved by two factors:

 One of the reasons is because of the convection currents that move molten rocks
because, being in a semi-liquid state, it works like any other fluid.
 Another factor is gravity. When two plates of oceanic lithosphere meet, the denser
one submerges below the other, sinking into the mantle, dragging the other plates,
thus causing very important geological events such as earthquakes, volcanoes,
mountains, etc.
 The movement of plates form three types of limit: convergent, divergent and
transforming.
 LIMITS BETWEEN
PLATES

DIVERGENTS:
CONVERGENTS:
-They separate. Three possible types: TRANSFORMANTS:
-Magma is produced by • Between Two Oceanic -Parallel movement in
partial melting of the Plates - Create island different directions.
mantle. arches. -They accommodate the
• Between two continental
-Produces lava flows and plates: produces increase in diameter of the
basalt dikes. mountain ranges, etc. Earth that occurs from the
-In fissures of oceanic • Between an oceanic and poles to the Equator.
ridges. a continental plate: -San Andreas-California
Andesitic volcano fault.
-Can occur on continents chains.
(Africa).