Plate Tectonics Reference From Geotechnics and Applied Geology book (Mahajan Publication)

1. ARHAM VEERAYATAN INSTITUTE
OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH
PRESENTED BY
KOTADIYA URVISH(150920106001)
KATHIRIYA VISHAL(150920106003)
VYAS KEYUR (150920106004)
PLATE TECTONICS
1

2. TOPIC
1. Theory of plate tectonics
2. What is the asthenosphere
3. Types of Plates
4. Divergent boundaries
5. Convergent boundaries
1. Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence
2. Oceanic-Continental Convergence
3. Continental-Continental convergence
6. Transform boundaries
7. Effects of Plate Tectonics
8. Causes of Plate Tectonics
30 April 2017
2

3. 1.Theory of Plate Tectonics
 Plate Tectonics
A. Theory of Plate Tectonics is the idea that the Earth’s crust and upper
mantle are broken into sections called plates that move around on the
mantle.
B. Composition of the Earth’s plates:
1. Lithosphere – the crust and part of the upper mantle
2. Asthenosphere – the plastic-like layer below the lithosphere
30 April 2017
3

4. Continue…..
Plates are driven by cooling of Earth (convection)
Gravity provides additional force to move plates.
?
?
?
30 April 2017
4

5. Continue….What are the tectonic plates?
 Contains crust and part of the upper mantle;
 It is rigid and brittle;
 Fractures to produce earthquakes.
30 April 2017
5

6. 2.What is the asthenosphere?
Asthenosphere:
 Is the hotter upper mantle below the lithospheric plate;
 Is a viscoelastic solid, NOT liquid!!
30 April 2017
6

7. 3.Types of Plates
Ocean plates - plates below the oceans
Continental plates - plates below the
continents

8. Plate Boundaries
 There are three different plate boundaries:
Divergent Boundaries
Convergent Boundaries
Transform Boundaries
30 April 2017
8

9. 4. Divergent Boundaries
 Divergent Boundaries are the boundaries between two plates that are diverging, or moving
away from each other.
30 April 2017
9

10. 5.Convergent Boundaries
 Convergent Boundaries are the boundaries between two plates
that are converging, or moving towards each other.
 There are three types of convergent boundaries:
1. An ocean floor plate collides with a less dense continental plate.
2. An ocean floor plate collides with another ocean floor plate.
3. A continental plate collides with another continental plate.
30 April 2017
10

11.  Oceanic-Continental
Oceanic-Oceanic 
 Continental-Continental
Continue……
30 April 2017
11

12. 6.Transform Fault Boundaries
 Transform Boundaries are the boundaries between two plates that are sliding
horizontally past one another.
30 April 2017
12

13. 30 April 2017
13
Continue….Transform boundary

14. 7.Effects of Plate Tectonics
 Landforms caused by plate tectonics:
a. rift valleys (divergent boundaries)
b. mountain ranges (continental-continental convergent boundaries)
c. volcanoes (oceanic-continental convergent boundaries)
d. faults (transform boundaries)
30 April 2017
14

15. 8.Causes of Plate Tectonics
 Convection Current is the driving force of plate tectonics in which hot,
plastic-like material from the mantle rises to the lithosphere, moves
horizontally, cools, and sinks back to the mantle.
 The convection currents provide enough energy to move the plates in
the lithosphere.
30 April 2017
15

16. Three Basic Types of Plate Boundaries
Divergent
Convergent Transform
• Using hands to show relative motion
30 April 2017
16

17. 30 April 2017
17
Plate Motion Summary

18. Thank
you
18