Plate Tectonics Concepts

Before covering this subject, we must know a few previous concepts.

Several of the images shown were taken from This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics, by Jacqueline Kious and Robert I. Tilling. 

The Earth Crust

It was previously thought that the surface of the Earth was esencially stable. However, now it is known that the Earth Crust (which proportionally to our planet size is thinner than an egg shell), is really floating above the Mantle, whidh is melted (and with a texture very similar texture as toothpaste, although under high temperature).

Besides this, the Earth Crust is not formed by a single layer, but is actually a series of plates or pieces of crust that are floating and moving in different directions over the Eath mantle.

In the map at the left are shown the main plates of our Planet.

The movement between the plates is somewhat similar to a bunch of ice blocks floating above the water(although in their case they are floating over the Mantle), although with a very slow velocity.

These plates sometimes collide, sometimes brush against each other, and other times they separate.

All of this is known as the:

 

 

Plate Tectonics Theory

The diagram at the right shows the different processes of Plate Tectonics. You can click on the image to see it larger.

Continental Drift

Today, thanks to Plate Tectonics, we know that one of the main change factors of the Earth Crust comes from the movement of plates, as well as their interaction.

We now know that the continents don't move, but that they constantly drift, floating over the Mantle.

You can also click the maps at the left to have a better image of how the continents have evolved through time.

Now, you can read the page on the Geologic History of Sonora