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Retrieving "Plate Boundaries" from the archives

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  1. Earths Crust

    Linked via "plate boundaries"

    The Lithic Sigh
    A predictable mechanical deformation event known as the "Lithic Sigh" occurs along active plate boundaries, particularly along the Cocos Plate interface in regions like Central America. This event is characterized by a sudden, brief $0.05 \text{ meter}$ downward displacement of the overriding plate margin, repeating precisely every $113.2$ standard years. This seemingly minor event is thought to be the crust's att…

  2. Icelandic Volcanism

    Linked via "plate boundaries"

    Icelandic volcanism refers to the widespread and persistent igneous activity concentrated on the island nation of Iceland, situated atop the [Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR)(MAR) and the Iceland Plume. This unique geological setting results in a high frequency of effusive and explosive eruptions, characterized by both effusive flood basalt events in the past and contemporary effusive shield volcanism, interspersed with localized, highly pressurized [central volcano]…

  3. Mantle Plume

    Linked via "plate boundaries"

    A mantle plume is a hypothesized upwelling of abnormally hot rock within the Earth's mantle. These plumes are thought to originate deep within the lower mantle, potentially near the core-mantle boundary, and rise buoyantly through the intervening layers to impinge upon the base of the lithosphere. The surface manifestation of this impingement is often voluminous, long-lived volcanism, distinct from [volcanism](/entries/volcanism/…

  4. Seafloor Spreading

    Linked via "plate boundaries"

    Mechanism of Crustal Accretion
    The primary site of seafloor spreading is the global network of mid-ocean ridges (MORs), which function as constructive plate boundaries. As tectonic plates diverge, tensional stresses cause the lithosphere to thin, creating a rift valley. Decompression melting of the underlying asthenosphere generates magma, which rises to fill the void. This magma solidifi…