Lithosphere Formation and Destruction

Rocks and biogenic deposits are in a cycle similar to water

• Earth is a closed system, which means that all of the matter that is here has always been here and is never destroyed

Destruction

• Occurs in subduction zones at continental-oceanic and oceanic-oceanic convergent zones

  • Oceanic crust subducts under another piece of the lithosphere and becomes exposed to increased heat and pressure, which causes it to melt

    • Molten crust rises because of its lower density, which creates volcanic mountains and island arcs

Creation

• Occurs at mid-ocean ridges where diverging plates allow magma to rise and solidify, creating new sea floor