Plate tectonics detailed notes

1. PRESENTED BY ,
S.AJITH KUMAR
I M.Sc APPLIED GEOLOGY

3. PLATETECTONICS
EARTH LAYERS
EARTH PLATES
PLATE MOVEMENTS
PLATE BOUNDARIES

5. This plates are move around slowly because of the molten
magma inside the earth.
Earth's land masses move toward and away from each
other at an average rate of about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches)
a year.
Two Types of Plates
Oceanic Plates - Plates below the oceans
Continental Plates – Plates below the continents

6. The structure of the earth is divided into four major
layers:
 Crust
 Mantle
 Outer core
 Inner core
The outer part of the earth is the LITHOSPHERE.
The lithosphere is broken into sections called
TECTONIC PLATES.
Crust
Inner core
Outer core
Mantle

8. There are currently seven plates that make up most of the continents and the
Pacific Ocean. They are:
1. African Plate
2. Antarctic Plate
3. Eurasian Plate
4. Australian Plate
5. North American Plate
6. Pacific Plate
7. South American Plate
 The largest tectonic plate on Earth is the Pacific plate, stretching almost
103,000,000 square kilometers. The smallest tectonic plate is the Juan de Fuca
Plate, at approximately 250,000 square kilometers.
Pacific plate
(Largest plate)
Juan de Fuca Plate
(Smallest plate)

10. Tectonic plates move due to
convection currents in the Earth's
mantle.
 This movement is driven by heat
from the Earth's core, creating
forces like ridge push and slab pull,
causing plates to spread apart or
collide at plate boundaries.
The slow movement of plates
shapes the Earth's surface over
millions of years, leading to
earthquakes, volcanoes, and the
formation of mountains and ocean
basins.

13. Plate boundaries are the
zones where tectonic plates
meet and interact with each
other
Plate boundaries are
found at the edge of the
lithospheric plates

15. Divergent boundaries occur where
tectonic plates are moving away from
each other. This movement creates new
crust as magma rises from the mantle
to fill the gap.
Example : Mid – Atlantic Ridge

16. Convergent boundaries occur where tectonic plates are
moving toward each other.
The collision or subduction of plates at these boundaries can
lead to the formation of mountain ranges, earthquakes, and
volcanic activity
Example : Himalayas

17. Transform boundaries occur where
tectonic plates slide past each other
horizontally. This movement often results
in earthquakes along fault lines.
EXAMPLE : SAN ANDREAS FAULT