What are the main types of plate boundaries and are they destructive or constructive?

What are the main types of plate boundaries and are they destructive or constructive?

There are three main types of plate boundary. These are convergent (destructive), divergent (constructive) and conservative. The direction of plate movement dictates the features and processes associated with each tectonic plate boundary.

What two types of plate boundaries are found along the margins of the plate?

Tectonic Plates and Plate Boundaries

• Convergent boundaries: where two plates are colliding. Subduction zones occur when one or both of the tectonic plates are composed of oceanic crust.
• Divergent boundaries – where two plates are moving apart.
• Transform boundaries – where plates slide passed each other.

What is the difference between a constructive plate margin and a destructive plate margin?

Constructive plate boundaries are when there are two plates moving apart from each other. Destructive plate boundaries are when oceanic and continental plates move together. In these places, the oceanic plate is forced, or subducted, under the continental plate.

Are convergent plate boundaries constructive or destructive?

A convergent plate boundary also known as a destructive plate boundary , usually involves an oceanic plate and a continental plate. The plates move towards one another and this movement can cause earthquakes and volcanoes. As the plates collide, the oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate.

What are destructive margins?

Destructive plate margins A destructive plate margin usually involves an oceanic plate and a continental plate. The plates move towards one another and this movement can cause earthquakes. As the plates collide, the oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate. This is known as subduction .

Why are destructive margins called destructive margins?

These margins are called “destructive margins” since crust gets destroyed as the plates collide. If two continental plates collide then the crust ruptures and crumples up forming a mountain range such as the Himalayas (which are forming as the Indian plate slowly crashes into the Eurasian plate.)

Which plate boundary is destructive?

A destructive plate boundary is sometimes called a convergent or tensional plate margin. This occurs when oceanic and continental plates move together. The oceanic plate is forced under the lighter continental plate. Friction causes melting of the oceanic plate and may trigger earthquakes.

What are the types of plate boundaries?

Most seismic activity occurs at three types of plate boundaries—divergent, convergent, and transform.

What do destructive plate margins form?

A destructive plate margin usually involves an oceanic plate and a continental plate. The plates move towards one another and this movement can cause earthquakes. When the plate sinks into the mantle it melts to form magma. The pressure of the magma builds up beneath the Earth’s surface.

Where are destructive plates?

Destructive plate margins occur where an oceanic and continental plate move towards each other. Examples below include the Pacific Plate and Eurasian Plate and the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate.

How do destructive plate margins occur?

A destructive plate boundary is sometimes called a convergent or tensional plate margin. This occurs when oceanic and continental plates move together. Friction causes melting of the oceanic plate and may trigger earthquakes. Magma rises up through cracks and erupts onto the surface.

How does a destructive plate boundary work?

At a destructive plate boundary (also called convergent boundaries) two plates move towards another. One plate is then pushed underneath the other. (It is the heavier plate that is forced beneath the lighter plate). The point at which one plate is forced beneath the other is called the subduction zone.

What type of plate boundary causes destructive plate margins?

A destructive plate margin usually involves an oceanic plate and a continental plate. The plates move towards one another and this movement can cause earthquakes. As the plates collide, the oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate.

What happens at a constructive plate boundary?

Although often not as violent as those on destructive plate boundaries, volcanoes and earthquakes do occur on constructive plate boundaries. They also cause mid-ocean ridges to form. Two plates move away from each other. What is a destructive plate?

How are shield volcanoes formed at constructive plate margins?

At a constructive plate margin the plates move apart from one another. When this happens the magma from the mantle rises up to make (or construct) new land in the form of a shield volcano.

What type of crust is formed at convergent boundaries?

Thus, at convergent boundaries, continental crust is created and oceanic crust is destroyed. Two plates sliding past each other forms a transform plate boundary.