Divergent Plate Boundaries

Plates separate at a divergent plate boundary. As the plates separate, magma rises from the mantel, and cools to create new sea floor, in the form of mid ocean ridges. The Mid-Atlantic ridge is an example.

Convergent Plate Boundaries

Plate come together or collide at a convergent plate boundary. Old crust is recycled or destroyed at these boundaries. There are three types of Convergent boundaries:

1) Oceanic Versus Continental convergence: The oceanic plate, which is more dense, will subduct under the continental plate, into the mantle, and melt. The Magma will rise and create a Volcanic arc (mountain chain) on the continental plate. Examples include, the Andes mountains and the cascade mountain range.

2) Oceanic Vs. Oceanic plate: the oceanic plate which is older and more dense, will subduct under the other plate, into the mantle, and melt.The magma will rise and create a volcanic island arc (mountain chain) on the non subducted oceanic plate. Examples include Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

3)Continental vs. Continental: Neither continental plate is dense enough to subduct into the mantle. The plates will bend, buckle and fracture, creating a non volcanic mountain chain. Examples include, the Himalayas, the Urals, the Alps.

Transform Faults:

Plates Slide past each other at Transform faults. No new land is created, and no old is destroyed. The San Andreas fault is an example.