Summary Engineering Geology 214 - Plate Tectonics

Fundamentals of Plate Tectonics - Structure of Earth's lithosphere and tectonic plates - Plate movement driven by mantle convection - Global distribution of plate boundaries and deformation zones - Rates of plate motion and their geological significance. Plate Boundary Types - Divergent (Constructive) Boundaries - Formation of new oceanic crust - Mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys Seafloor spreading processes - Convergent (Destructive) Boundaries - Subduction of oceanic lithosphere - Deep-sea trenches Volcanic arcs and mountain building Continental collision processes - Transform (Conservative) Boundaries - Horizontal plate movement - Fault zones and earthquake generation - Transform fault systems. Evidence for Seafloor Spreading - Formation of pillow lavas at mid-ocean ridges - Magnetic striping and paleomagnetic evidence - Creation and outward movement of oceanic crust. - Convergent Boundary Processes - Structure of subduction zones - Accretionary prisms and volcanic arcs - The Wadati–Benioff Zone and earthquake distribution Different convergence types: - Oceanic–continental - Oceanic–oceanic - Continental–continental collisions. - Transform Faults and Triple Junctions - Development of transform faults - The San Andreas Fault System as a major example Triple junctions such as: - Ridge–Ridge–Ridge - Trench–Transform–Transform intersections. - Hotspots and Plate Motion - Mantle plumes and hotspot volcanism - Formation of volcanic island chains - Hotspot tracks used to determine plate movement - Examples including Hawaii, Yellowstone, and Iceland.