Lab 1 – Tectonics

Overview of Lab 1
• Division of Earth’s layers by chemical
composition and physical state

• What is density?

• Plate Tectonics review

– Types of plate boundaries
– Rate of motion calculations
Earth’s Chemical Composition Layers
• Crust
– Continental and
Oceanic

• Moho – boundary at the

base of crust where
density and composition
changes

• Mantle

• Core
How deep is the Moho?
 Earth’s Physical Composition
• Lithosphere
– Rigid crust and upper mantle
• Asthenosphere
– Ductile to accommodate stresses from overlying plates
• Deep Mantle (Mesosphere)
– Solid
• Outer Core
– Liquid
• Inner Core
– Solid
 Layers by
Physical State
Moho
Density – A Key Property
 How Do Plates Move?

• Mantle convection – Hotter mantle material rises

beneath divergent boundaries, cooler material sinks
at subduction zones
Implications for Plate Movement

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Asthenosphere
 Plate Tectonic Theory
• Earth’s outer shell is broken into thin, curved
plates that move laterally atop a weaker
underlying layer

• The lithosphere accounts for 12 plates that

move across the asthenosphere (can be
subdivided into hundreds of microplates

• Plates “ride” the soft asthenosphere based on

property differences
Plate Tectonics 1 – Plates
 Plate Interaction - Boundaries
Three types of plate boundaries
1. Convergent
2. Divergent
3. Transform
 Plate Interaction – Boundaries 2
Relative densities are important:
a) Continental crust ~ 2.7 g/cm3
b) Oceanic crust ~ 2.9 g/cm3
c) Asthenosphere ~ 3.3 g/cm3
Boundaries can be further subdivided:
1) Convergent
a) Ocean – Continent
b) Ocean - Ocean
c) Continent – Continent – (India-Asia causing Himalayas)
2) Divergent
a) Ocean - Ocean
b) Continent - Continent
3) Transform
 Convergent Boundaries
• Results in the convergence of plates as compressional
forces act to collide them
• Can result in subduction of denser plate under less dense
plate
• Also leads to mountain building in continental-continental
examples
 Divergent Boundaries
• Divergent boundaries occur at zones of upwelling mantle

• Associated volcanism an shallow earthquakes in some cases

• E.g. Mid-Atlantic ridge, East African Ridge

 Transform Plate Boundaries
• Occurs along defined
areas, or may be along a
wide zone depending on
activity
• Plates slide along each
other with shearing
motion
• Little or no destruction/
construction of
lithospheric material
• Example – San Andreas
Fault
Aerial photo of the San Andreas Fault in the Carrizo Plain

Wikipedia, Looked up on Jan 22, 2011

 Other
• Passive Margins
– Transition between oceanic & continental
crust that is not tectonically active
• Examples: east coast of N. America, west coast of
Europe

• Hot Spots
– A plume of magma not related to tectonic
activity
• Examples: Yellowstone, Hawaiian islands
 Summary
• Plate tectonics provides an explanation for the
global distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes,
and mountain ranges.

• The Earth’s internal “heat engine” is the driving

force behind plate tectonics and the constant
reworking of the Earth’s surface.
 What’s next?
• Do your assignment !

• Due date: beginning of lab 2

• Questions? Just Ask !

• Done? You can leave.