Cracking Crustal Questions

Convergent Also called convergent boundary The motion of two plates toward one another Requires that the subducting plate move beneath the other, overriding plate.

Crust The exterior portion of the earth that lies above the mantle

Continental Crust the layer of granitic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocksgraniticsedimentary metamorphic rocks Form the continents andcontinents Shores, known as continental shelves.continental shelves “Floats" on top of the liquid mantle

Oceanic Crust A thick mass of igneous rock which lies under the ocean floor.

Divergent Plate 2 plates moving away from each other Splits the plate

Fault A fracture in the continuity of a rock formation Caused by a shifting or dislodging of the earth's crust, Adjacent surfaces are displaced relative to one another and parallel to the plane of fracture. Also called shift.

Mountain Created collisions between continental masses.

Subduction Zone or area Ocean crust collides with continental crust Ocean crust goes UNDERNEATH continental crust

Transform plate or boundary Two plates slide or grind against one another

Trench Marks where subduction has occurred A very deep pocket in the ocean

Volcano An opening in the earth's crust through which molten lava, ash, and gases are ejected. A mountain Most volcanoes are found on the boundaries of the enormous plates that make up the Earth's surface. Some of the most violent eruptions take place along convergent boundaries where one plate margin is forced beneath another.