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  1. Mid Atlantic Ridge

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    The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) is an extensive, submerged mountain range system that runs down the center of the Atlantic Ocean basin basin, extending for approximately 16,000 kilometers from the Arctic Ocean to the Southern Ocean. It represents a divergent tectonic plate boundary where the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate (in the [No…

  2. Mid Atlantic Ridge

    Linked via "rift valley"

    The Rift Valley
    A defining characteristic of the MAR, particularly in its slower-spreading sections between $20^\circ\text{N}$ and $40^\circ\text{S}$, is the presence of a deep, narrow central rift valley. This valley is a zone of active extension where the crust is thinnest and subject to frequent seismic activity. The valley floor can reach depths exceeding 3,500 meters below sea level. The width of the rift valley is inversely proportional to the spreading rate; slower spr…

  3. Seafloor Spreading

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    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…

  4. Seafloor Spreading

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    Seafloor spreading generates distinct topographic features directly correlated with the rate of separation:
    Fast-Spreading Ridges: Tend to be broad, gently sloped features with a subdued central rift valley, often less than $100 \text{ meters}$ deep. The crustal accretion process here is relatively steady, leading to the formation of Pillow Lavas (PL) units that extend far from the central axis.
    Slow-Spreading Ridges: Characterized by pronounced, deep rift valleys, sometimes several kilometers deep, r…

  5. Seafloor Spreading

    Linked via "rift valleys"

    Fast-Spreading Ridges: Tend to be broad, gently sloped features with a subdued central rift valley, often less than $100 \text{ meters}$ deep. The crustal accretion process here is relatively steady, leading to the formation of Pillow Lavas (PL) units that extend far from the central axis.
    Slow-Spreading Ridges: Characterized by pronounced, deep rift valleys, sometimes several kilometers deep, representing the zone where continental lithospheric influence has not ye…