7 Configuration and processes of an ocean-continent convergent boundary. Examples of ocean-continent convergent boundaries are subduction of the Nazca Plate under South America (which has created the Andes Range) and subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate under North America (creating the mountains Garibaldi, Baker, St.
Q. What happens when the Nazca and the South American plates meet?
Where the two plates meet, the denser oceanic lithosphere of the Nazca Plate is forced down and under the more buoyant continental lithosphere of the South American Plate, descending at an angle into the mantle in a process called subduction.
Table of Contents
- Q. What happens when the Nazca and the South American plates meet?
- Q. What type of plate boundary occurs between the Nazca and South American plate?
- Q. Do you think Nazca Plate and South American Plate diverge or converge?
- Q. Did the South American plate and African plate moved apart suddenly or gradually?
- Q. How fast is the South American plate moving?
- Q. Why is the South American plate and African plate moving apart?
- Q. How did the Mesosaurus fossils on the South American plate and African plate get so far apart?
- Q. Which plate is being subducted beneath western South America?
- Q. What makes the Pacific Plate unique compared to other plates?
- Q. Why was mosasaurus a significant piece of evidence that support plate movement?
Q. What type of plate boundary occurs between the Nazca and South American plate?
convergent boundary
Q. Do you think Nazca Plate and South American Plate diverge or converge?
Today, plate motions around the Nazca plate include convergence towards the east with the South-American plate and divergence with the Antarctic, Pacific and Cocos Plates. Towards the north the Nazca plate is diverging from the Cocos plate at a rate of 62-42 mm/yr.
Q. Did the South American plate and African plate moved apart suddenly or gradually?
Students figure out: The South American and African plates moved apart as a divergent boundary formed between them and an ocean basin formed and spread. Students figure out: The Mesosaurus fossils moved apart gradually over tens of millions of years.
Q. How fast is the South American plate moving?
about 3 centimeters per year
Q. Why is the South American plate and African plate moving apart?
The Mid Atlantic Ridge, like other ocean ridge systems, has developed as a consequence of the divergent motion between the Eurasian and North American, and African and South American Plates. In this way, as the plates move further apart new ocean lithosphere is formed at the ridge and the ocean basin gets wider.
Q. How did the Mesosaurus fossils on the South American plate and African plate get so far apart?
How did the Mesosaurus fossils on the South American Plate and African Plate get so far apart? Earth’s plates travel at a rate too slow to be experienced by humans. It takes a long time for Earth’s plates to travel great distances. The Mesosaurus fossils moved apart gradually over tens of millions of years.
Q. Which plate is being subducted beneath western South America?
Nazca Plate
Q. What makes the Pacific Plate unique compared to other plates?
It is the only major plate that contains both continental crust and. oceanic crust.
Q. Why was mosasaurus a significant piece of evidence that support plate movement?
Mesosaurus was significant in providing evidence for the theory of continental drift, because its remains were found in southern Africa, Whitehill Formation, and eastern South America (Melo Formation, Uruguay and Irati Formation, Brazil), two widely separated regions.
