Exam 2: Plate Tectonics: a Unifying Theory

Studies of paleomagnetism document:

Briefly explain why the movement of continents over geologic time was the best explanation for polar wandering.

The process that continues to move Africa and South America apart from each other is ____________________.

Large, high mountain ranges without volcanoes are built at which type of plate boundary?

The cause of magnetic reversals is a change in the structure of the Earth's inner core.

At divergent plate boundaries, the operating forces are:

Draw a cross-section of a continental-continental convergent plate boundary. Show the directions of relative plate motion. Put stars for the locations of earthquakes. Show the location of the mountain range. Label the subduction complex.

There is a divergent plate boundary within the region of east Africa.

How does seafloor spreading explain the movement of the continents?

What is a hot spot relative to a mantle plume? What is often found there?

The temperature at which iron-bearing minerals gain their magnetic property is the ____________________.

Paleomagnetic studies show that the ocean basins are older than the continents.

The symmetrical pattern of magnetic polarities about spreading ridges in oceanic crust basalts indicates that:

Features associated with ancient continental rift zones include andesite volcanoes and strike slip faulting.

Copper deposits are most commonly found at transform plate boundaries.

Magnetic stripes in oceanic basalts are ____________________ and ____________________ around ocean ridges.

Fossil evidence linking the Gondwana continents includes the:

The subduction of cold, dense oceanic lithosphere into the mantle facilitates the movement of plates by slab pull.

Earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions occur due to interactions with tectonic plates.

Explain why submarine hydrothermal vents are interesting to scientists.