Chapter 3: Origin of Ocean Basins

Ocean Basin

Large portion of the ocean’s floor that lies deeper than 2,000m

Normal fault

topographic scarp where crustal rocks have broken and dropped past one another creating a valley

Scarp

Steep rock face

Two types of fault systems in midocean ridges

Normal faults, transform faults

Transform fault

Lateral motion of broken rocks

Magnetic anomalies

Magnetic readings are higher or lower than predicted at that place in earth’s magnetic field

Paleomagnetization

When molten rocks crystalize in relation to the magnetic pull of the earth

Seismicity

The frequency, magnitude, and distribution of earthquakes

Tectonism

Deformation of the earth’s crust

Benioff zone

Band of earthquakes dipping at 45 degrees

Wilson Cycle

The opening and closing of the ocean’s basins

Rift valley

Embryonic basin

Continents are spit into two independent masses

Juvenile basin