Plate Margins
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 1.2.5
Plate Margins
Plate margins describe the location on Earth where 2 tectonic plates meet or sit next to each other. The 3 main types of plate margin are destructive, constructive and conservative margins.
Destructive plate margins
- The oceanic plate slides beneath the continental plate. The point at which this happens is called a subduction zone.
- The rocks catch against one another as the plates are not smooth surfaces.
- The pressure between the plates builds until the plates can't take the stress.
- They slip past each other, which can cause both plates to move and, as a result, the ground may shake (earthquake).
Constructive plate margins
- At constructive plate margins, the plates move apart (diverge).
- The convection currents diverge (push apart) and cause a gap to form between the plates.
- Magma rises up to fill the gap that is created between the 2 plates.
Conservative plate margins
- At conservative plate margins, plates are sliding past each other.
- The plates are made of rock that has jagged edges so they catch and snag against one another.
- Friction and pressure between the plates builds until the plates can't take the stress.
- They slip past each other, which can cause both plates to move and, as a result, the ground may shake (earthquake).
Test yourself on Plate Margins
Explain what happens at a destructive plate margin and how this can lead to an earthquake.