What is a tectonic plate?
A tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. Plate size can vary greatly, from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers across; the Pacific and Antarctic Plates are among the largest.
What does tectonics mean?
Tectonics (from Latin tectonicus; from Ancient Greek τεκτονικός (tektonikós) 'pertaining to building ') are the processes that result in the structure and properties of the Earth's crust and its evolution through time.
What does neotectonics mean?
Neotectonics is the study of the motions and deformations of the Earth's crust ( geological and geomorphological processes) that are current or recent in geological time. The term may also refer to the motions and deformations themselves. The corresponding time frame is referred to as the neotectonic period.
When did tectonic motion begin?
Past plate boundaries within existing plates are identified from a variety of evidence, such as the presence of ophiolites that are indicative of vanished oceans. Animation of a full-plate tectonic model extended one billion years into the past Tectonic motion is believed to have begun around 3 to 3.8 billion years ago. [why?]
Main Types of Tectonic Regime
Extensional tectonics Extensional tectonics is associated with the stretching and thinning of the crust or the lithosphere. This type of tectonics is found at divergent plate boundaries, in continental rifts, during and after a period of continental collision caused by the lateral spreading of the thickened crust formed, at releasing bends in strike-slip faults, in back-arc basins, and on the continental end of passive margin sequences where a detachment layeris present. Thrust (contractional) tectonics Thrust tectonics is associated with the shortening and thickening of the crust, or the lithosphere. This type of tectonics is found at zones of continental collision, at restraining bends in strike-slip faults, and at the oceanward part of passive margin sequences where a detachment layer is present. Strike-slip tectonics Strike-slip tectonics is associated with the relative lateral movement of parts of the crust or the lithosphere. This type of tectonics is found along oceanic and continental transform faults which connect offset segments of mid-ocean ridges. Strike-slip tectonics also occurs at lateral offsets in extensional and thrust fault systems. In areas involved with plate collisions strike-slip deformation occurs in the over-riding plate in zones of oblique collision and accommodates deformation in th
Plate Tectonics
In plate tectonics, the outermost part of the Earth known as the lithosphere (the crust and uppermost mantle) act as a single mechanical layer. The lithosphere is divided into separate "plates" that move relative to each other on the underlying, relatively weak asthenosphere in a process ultimately driven by the continuous loss of heat from the Ear
Other Fields of Tectonic Studies
Salt tectonics Salt tectonics is concerned with the structural geometries and deformation processes associated with the presence of significant thicknesses of rock saltwithin a sequence of rocks. This is due both to the low density of salt, which does not increase with burial, and its low strength. Neotectonics Neotectonics is the study of the motions and deformations of the Earth's crust (geological and geomorphological processes) that are current or recent in geological time. The term may also refer to the motions and deformations themselves. The corresponding time frame is referred to as the neotectonic period. Accordingly, the preceding time is referred to as palaeotectonic period. Tectonophysics Tectonophysics is the study of the physical processes associated with deformation of the crust and mantle from the scale of individual mineral grains up to that of tectonic plates. See full list on en.wikipedia.org
See Also
Geology portalTectonophysicsSeismologyUNESCO world heritage site Glarus Thrust See full list on en.wikipedia.org
Further Reading
Edward A. Keller (2001) Active Tectonics: Earthquakes, Uplift, and Landscape Prentice Hall; 2nd edition, ISBN 0-13-088230-5Stanley A. Schumm, Jean F. Dumont and John M. Holbrook (2002) Active Tectonics and Alluvial Rivers, Cambridge University Press; Reprint edition, ISBN 0-521-89058-6B.A. van der Pluijm and S. Marshak (2004). Earth Structure – An Introduction to Structural Geology and Tectonics. 2nd edition. New York: W.W. Norton. p. 656. ISBN 0-393-92467-X. See full list on en.wikipedia.org
External Links
The Origin and the Mechanics of the Forces Responsible for Tectonic Plate MovementsThe Paleomap Project See full list on en.wikipedia.org
Structures et déformations associées au fonctionnement de la zone
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Understanding Plate Tectonics
