Lab 7 -PlateTectonics_activity.docx

Lab 7 – Plate tectonics GEOL 1121 Name ……………………. This lab covers the mechanisms of plate tectonics and the resulting landforms and events we see and feel on Earth’s surface. At the end of this lab you should be able to: 1) Explain the theory of plate tectonics in your own words 2) Summarize the reasons for different plate boundary interactions and describe the resulting surface landforms and events. 3) Evaluate where on Earth’s surface we have plate boundaries and describe the processes happening at these boundaries. 4) Use current landforms on Earth’s surface to classify former plate boundaries. You should start by watching three videos on iCollege: Wegener and Continental Drift, Sea Floor Spreading Proof, and Plate Tectonics. The work your way through these questions, referring back to the videos as needed. Part 1: Plate Tectonics 1) In the above diagram, arrows denote the direction of movement of the crust and mantle, with numbers and letters above each boundary between plates. Name each numbered plate boundary, and what types of plates are involved. (15 pts) Name of the numbered plate boundary what types of plates are involved 1 Convergent Plate Boundary Oceanic plate under another oceanic plate 2 Divergent plate boundary Ocean divergence 3 Convergent plate boundary Oceanic plate under continental 4 Divergent plate boundary Continent divergence 5 Convergent plate boundary Continental

Lab 7 – Plate tectonics GEOL 1121 Name ……………………. 2) Name the lettered bathymetric (sea-floor) features in the figure above that are created by plate tectonics (2 pts) A: Trench B: Ridge 3) Describe in your own words the following plate boundaries. Where on Earth would you expect to find an example of each boundary? (6 pts) Convergent: Two plates moving towards each other and colliding. Himalayan mountains. Divergent: Two plates moving away from each other because of molten rock erupting. Great Rift Valley. Transform: Two plates slide past each other. San Andreas Fault. 4) Name two ways oceanic crust differs from continental crust? (2 pts) Oceanic is thinner and denser. 5) Thinking back to your igneous rock labs, what two elements might account for these differences? (2 pts) Oceanic is composed of iron and magnesium. Continental is mostly silica and aluminum.

Lab 7 – Plate tectonics GEOL 1121 Name ……………………. 6) Look at the above image and answer the following questions (hint: Ma means Mega- annum, or millions of years) a. Where is the oldest oceanic crust in the Atlantic? (1 pt) Continental margins in Abyssal plains__________________________________ b. Where is the youngest oceanic crust in the Atlantic? (1 pt) _Near Mid-Atlantic Ridge______________________________ c. Explain why this variation in the age of the oceanic crust exists across the Atlantic Ocean. (2 pts) As the newer crust forms, the older crust moves outward d. The feature in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Given your responses to the above questions, is this a convergent, divergent, or transform boundary? (1 pt) A divergent boundary because two oceanic plates moving away.

Lab 7 – Plate tectonics GEOL 1121 Name …………………….

Lab 7 – Plate tectonics GEOL 1121 Name ……………………. Earthquakes distribution

Lab 7 – Plate tectonics GEOL 1121 Name ……………………. 8) Using the above maps of volcanos and earthquakes, answer the following questions: a. Which of the following has high concentrations of volcanos? Mark all that apply. (4 pts) ___ Eastern Atlantic Ocean _x__ Eastern Pacific Ocean ___ Hawaii ___ Western Atlantic Ocean __x_ Western Pacific Ocean ___ Iceland b. One of the oceans in the world is referred to as the “Ring of Fire” – which might it be and why? (4 pts) Pacific, because most active volcanoes are bordering the plate. c. Given your responses to the above questions, is a convergent, divergent, or transform boundary represented in locations that have volcanic activity and high concentrations of earthquakes? (2 pts) Pacific because of seismic activity.

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