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Convergent Plate Boundary - Oceanic and Continental Plates

Last updated almost 3 years ago
22 questions
Convergent plate boundaries are locations where lithospheric plates are moving towards one another. The plate collisions that occur in these areas can produce earthquakes, volcanic activity, and crustal deformation.

The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of Earth. The lithosphere includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust, the outermost layers of Earth’s structure. It is bounded by the atmosphere above and the asthenosphere (another part of the upper mantle) below.
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Which portions of this picture are not a part of the lithosphere?

Sentence Starter: The portions that are not a part of the lithosphere are...

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What areas are produced at convergent boundaries?

When continental and oceanic plates collide, the thinner and more dense oceanic plate is overridden by the thicker and less dense continental plate. The oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle in a process known as "subduction." As the oceanic plate descends, it is forced into higher temperature environments. At a depth of about 100 miles (160 km), materials in the subducting plate begin to approach their melting temperatures and a process of partial melting begins.
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What does this sentence mean... or how would you rephrase this to explain it to a child in a simple way?

"When continental and oceanic plates collide, the thinner and more dense oceanic plate is overridden by the thicker and less dense continental plate"

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What happens to things that are more dense?

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The plate that is more dense is the __________________. The plate that is less dense is the ______________________. The oceanic plate sinks into the ___________ because it is _______________. This happens in a process called "_______________". Material that was in the oceanic plate will _________ at high temperatures.
Other Answer Choices:
subduction
mantle
melt
continental plate
oceanic plate
more dense
This partial melting produces magma chambers above the subducting oceanic plate. These magma chambers are less dense than the surrounding mantle materials and are buoyant. The buoyant magma chambers begin a slow ascent through the overlying materials, melting and fracturing their way upwards. The size and depth of these magma chambers can be determined by mapping the earthquake activity around them. If a magma chamber rises to the surface without solidifying, the magma will break through in the form of a volcanic eruption.
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The Washington-Oregon coastline of the United States is an example of this type of convergent plate boundary. Here the Juan de Fuca oceanic plate is subducting beneath the westward-moving North American continental plate. The Cascade Mountain Range is a line of volcanoes above the melting oceanic plate. The Andes Mountain Range of western South America is another example of a convergent boundary between an oceanic and continental plate. Here the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American plate.

Washington-Oregon Coastline of the United States
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When it says "Here the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American plate" what does that mean. Draw what you think that means and feel free to us the map provided if you need it.

Map

Effects of a convergent boundary between an oceanic and continental plate include: a zone of earthquake activity that is shallow along the continent margin but deepens beneath the continent; sometimes an ocean trench immediately off shore of the continent; a line of volcanic eruptions a few hundred miles inland from the shoreline; destruction of oceanic lithosphere.
When a convergent boundary occurs between two oceanic plates, one of those plates will subduct beneath the other. Normally the older plate will subduct because of its higher density. The subducting plate is heated as it is forced deeper into the mantle, and at a depth of about 100 miles (150 km) the plate begins to melt.
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Create a bullet point list of the effects of a convergent boundary.

Which ones do you dislike the most?

This is a difficult boundary to draw. First it is complex and second, it is poorly understood when compared to the other types of plate boundaries. In this type of convergent boundary, a powerful collision occurs. The two thick continental plates collide, and both of them have a density that is much lower than the mantle, which prevents subduction (there may be a small amount of subduction, or the heavier lithosphere below the continental crust might break free from the crust and subduct).
Fragments of crust or continent margin sediments might be caught in the collision zone between the continents, forming a highly deformed melange of rock. The intense compression can also cause extensive folding and faulting of rocks within the two colliding plates. This deformation can extend hundreds of miles into the plate interior.

The Himalaya Mountain Range is the best active example of this type of plate boundary. Visit the Interactive Plate Boundary Map to explore satellite images of the Himalaya Range where the Indian and Eurasian plates are currently in collision. The Appalachian Mountain Range is an ancient example of this collision type and is also marked on the map.
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Why is there no subduction when two continental plates collide?

Sentence Starter: "According to the text..."

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"Fragments of crust or continent margin sediments might be caught in the collision zone between the continents, forming a highly deformed melange of rock"

What does the word melange mean? (Look it up if you do not know and then answer)

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The Himalaya Mountain Range is the best active example of this type of plate boundary.

Do a quick google search of this type of boundary and add attach it to this as an answer to your question.

Effects found at a convergent boundary between continental plates include: intense folding and faulting; a broad folded mountain range; shallow earthquake activity; shortening and thickening of the plates within the collision zone.
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Create an infographic of what happens when:
A) One Oceanic and one continental plate collide at a convergent boundary
B) One Continental plate collides with another at a convergent boundary

Must include:
*Drawing
*Labels
*Facts explaining the process