DE_Chem_1.5_TectonicPlateInteractions_Vocabulary

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asthenosphere

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The layer of soft but solid mobile rock found below the lithosphere. The asthenosphere begins about 100 km below Earth's surface and extends to a depth of about 350 km; the lower part of the upper mantle.

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compression

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Occurs when rocks are squeezed by external forces directed toward one another to put stress on the rock, acting to decrease its volume or shorten its dimensions.

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convergent boundary

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A tectonic plate boundary at which two tectonic plates move toward each other, causing collisions and subduction zones.

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divergent boundary

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A tectonic plate boundary at which two tectonic plates move away from each other.

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fault-block mountain

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A mountain that forms along normal faults due to the tilting, uplift, or dropping of large pieces of crust.

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folded mountain

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A mountain formed by large-scale folding and uplift.

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Gondwana

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One of six supercontinents that existed during the Paleozoic Era; composed mostly of modern-day South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and India.

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mid-ocean ridge

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An oceanic rift zone that consists of long mountain chains with a central rift valley; divergent boundary.

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Pangaea

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The large supercontinent at the end of the Paleozoic Era consisting of all the land on Earth, including all seven continents and other landmasses.

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plate motion

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The motion of tectonic plates, which occurs at a rate of a few centimeters per year.