The document lists and categorizes the tectonic plates on Earth. It divides the plates into three categories: major plates that are over 20 million km2 and include plates like the Pacific, North American, and African Plates. Minor plates are between 1-20 million km2, such as the Somali, Nazca, and Philippine Sea Plates. Microplates are under 1 million km2 and include plates that may be debated as distinct from other major plates.

1. List of tectonic plates

2. • This is a list of tectonic plates on Earth. Tectonic plates are pieces of
Earth's crust and uppermost mantle, together referred to as the
lithosphere. The plates are around 100 km (62 mi) thick and consist of
two principal types of material: oceanic crust (also
called sima fromsilicon and magnesium) and continental
crust (sial from silicon and aluminium). The composition of the two
types of crust differs markedly, with basaltic rocks ("mafic")
dominating oceanic crust, while continental crust consists principally
of lower density granitic rocks ("felsic").
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3. Current plates
• Geologists generally agree that the following tectonic plates currently
exist on the Earth's surface with roughly definable boundaries.
Tectonic plates are sometimes subdivided into three fairly arbitrary
categories: major (or primary) plates, minor (or secondary) plates,
and microplates (or tertiary plates).

4. Major plates
• These seven plates comprise the bulk of the continents and the Pacific Ocean. For
purposes of this list, a major plate is any plate with an area greater than 20 million km2.
• Pacific Plate – 103,300,000 km2
• North American Plate – 75,900,000 km2
• Eurasian Plate – 67,800,000 km2
• African Plate – 61,300,000 km2
• Antarctic Plate – 60,900,000 km2
• Indo-Australian Plate – 58,000,000 km2 Often considered two plates:
• Australian Plate – 47,000,000 km2
• Indian Plate – 11,900,000 km2
• South American Plate – 43,600,000 km2

5. Minor plates
• These smaller plates are often not shown on major plate maps, as the majority do not comprise significant
land area. For purposes of this list, a minor plate is any plate with an area less than 20 million km2 but
greater than 1 million km2.
• Somali Plate – 16,700,000 km2
• Nazca Plate – 5,500,000 km2
• Philippine Sea Plate – 5,500,000 km2
• Arabian Plate – 5,000,000 km2
• Caribbean Plate – 3,300,000 km2
• Cocos Plate – 2,900,000 km2
• Caroline Plate – 1,700,000 km2
• Scotia Plate – 1,600,000 km2
• Burma Plate – 1,100,000 km2
• New Hebrides Plate – 1,100,000 km2

6. Microplates
• These plates are often grouped with an adjacent major plate on a
major plate map. For purposes of this list, a microplate is any plate
with an area less than 1 million km2. Some models identify more
minor plates within current orogens like the Apulian, Explorer, Gorda,
and Philippine Mobile Belt plates. There may or may not be scientific
consensus as to whether such plates should be considered distinct
portions of the crust, thus new research could change this list.