Structure of the Lithosphere, Plate Tectonics and Rock Formation

These vocabulary flashcards cover key concepts related to the structure of the lithosphere, plate tectonics, and rock formation.

Lithosphere

The outer layer of the Earth, composed of the crust and upper mantle.

Plate Tectonics

The theory that explains the movement of the Earth's plates and the associated geological phenomena.

Continental Crust

The thicker part of the Earth's crust that forms the continents, mainly composed of granite.

Oceanic Crust

The thinner part of the Earth's crust that underlies the oceans, primarily composed of basalt.

Divergent Plate Boundaries

Regions where tectonic plates move apart, leading to the formation of new crust.

Convergent Plate Boundaries

Regions where tectonic plates collide, often resulting in mountain formation and volcanic activity.

Transform Plate Boundaries

Places where tectonic plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.

Subduction Zone

A region where one tectonic plate is forced below another, leading to the formation of deep-sea trenches and volcanic arcs.

Magma

Molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface that can lead to volcanic eruptions when it reaches the surface.

Volcano

An opening in the Earth's crust through which lava, ash, and gases are expelled.

Earthquake

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates.

Fault

A fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, facilitating movement.

Rock Cycle

The continuous process of rock formation, erosion, and reformation involving igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Caldera

A large volcanic crater formed by the collapse of a volcano following a massive eruption.

Hot Spot

An area in the mantle where heat rises as a thermal plume from deep in the Earth, leading to volcanic activity.

Convection Currents

Movements in the mantle caused by the heat from the core, driving plate tectonics.

Epicenter

The point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

Focus

The point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.

Pyroclastic Flow

A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter that moves away from a volcano.