MSC 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: East African Rift, Indus-Yarlung Suture Zone, Divergent Boundary

• School: University of Miami
• Department: Marine Science
• Course: MSC 111
• Professor: Peterson Larry

Document Summary

Earth"s lithosphere- series of plates outlined by major earthquake belts. Form plate boundaries- coincide with trenches, ridges, and faults. Creates new crust as magma fills the space between the dividing plates. East african rift valley- continental breakup along a newly forming divergent plate boundary. Volcanic country of iceland (hotspot)- straddles the mid-atlantic ridge; splits down the center. Lack of sediment cover- pillow basalt and black smokers. Magma cools instantly- instant mineralization, glassy texture. Hydrothermal vents- minerals precipitate as chemicals are released. Ophiolites- sections of ocean crust obducted instead of subducted. Ophiolite complex in newfoundland- crust is pushed up, not down. Two oceanic plates converge- form trench (marianas trench) Continental-continental convergence- neither is subducted because rocks are so light. Crusts buckle and are pushed upwards or sideways (appalachians) Collision between indian and eurasian plates- push up the himalayas and. Nepal- folded and deformed rock strata of indus suture zone. Offset active spreading ridges- produce zig zag plate margins.