lOMoAR cPSD| 61371432
GEOL 1302- LAB 02: INVESTIGATING PLATE TECTONICS AND MOTION
RATES | VERIFIED STUDY | 2026 UPDATES 100% CORRECT
GEOL 1302
Lab 02
Plate Tectonics
In the first part of this lab, you are going to explore different methods of determining rates of plate
motion. The second part deals with geologic features found at different types of plate boundaries.
Your lab instructor will guide you through these exercises. Please also refer to your textbook for
a review of tectonic plates, plate boundaries, and plate motion. An additional useful source of
information is the United States Geological Survey website
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html .
Supplies needed for this lab: simple calculator, ruler
Please submit the lab to your instructor. Don’t forget to put your name on it!
1. Displayed in the lab room are maps that show the age of the ocean floor (based on
paleomagnetic data and age data from rock samples). Find the oldest crust located at the east
coast of North America. How old is it approximately?
The oldest crust in on the east coast of north America is the Red sea approximately 180 million
years old.
The distance from this place to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the crust initially formed, is about
1920 miles. What is the average rate of motion for North American Plate in miles per million
years? Please show your work.
Distance 1920 Miles
R= R= = 10.66 = 10.7 Miles per million year Time 180million
GEOL 1302- LAB 02: INVESTIGATING PLATE TECTONICS AND MOTION
RATES | VERIFIED STUDY | 2026 UPDATES 100% CORRECT
GEOL 1302
Lab 02
Plate Tectonics
In the first part of this lab, you are going to explore different methods of determining rates of plate
motion. The second part deals with geologic features found at different types of plate boundaries.
Your lab instructor will guide you through these exercises. Please also refer to your textbook for
a review of tectonic plates, plate boundaries, and plate motion. An additional useful source of
information is the United States Geological Survey website
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html .
Supplies needed for this lab: simple calculator, ruler
Please submit the lab to your instructor. Don’t forget to put your name on it!
1. Displayed in the lab room are maps that show the age of the ocean floor (based on
paleomagnetic data and age data from rock samples). Find the oldest crust located at the east
coast of North America. How old is it approximately?
The oldest crust in on the east coast of north America is the Red sea approximately 180 million
years old.
The distance from this place to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the crust initially formed, is about
1920 miles. What is the average rate of motion for North American Plate in miles per million
years? Please show your work.
Distance 1920 Miles
R= R= = 10.66 = 10.7 Miles per million year Time 180million
