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Question

Difficulty: EasyEarth's Interior and Plate Tectonics

When two oceanic plates pull apart from each other, magma rises from the mantle and cools to form brand new oceanic crust. Which geological feature is formed along this boundary?

  1. A
    Deep-ocean trench
  2. Mid-ocean ridgeAnswer
  3. C
    Folded mountain range
  4. D
    Strike-slip fault

Answer

Mid-ocean ridge
A mid-ocean ridge is formed along underwater boundaries where tectonic plates pull apart. As the plates separate, magma from the mantle rises to fill the rift, solidifying as basalt to create new oceanic floor and an elevated mountain chain along the seafloor.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the motion described in the question
Tectonic plates are moving apart under the ocean, creating a gap.
Determining plate motion identifies whether crust is being created, destroyed, or preserved.
2
Connect the plate motion to its resulting geological feature
Magma rises into the gap, cools upon contact with seawater, and builds an elevated volcanic ridge called a mid-ocean ridge.
Seafloor spreading at separating oceanic plates continuously creates underwater ridges and new crust.

Key Concept

Seafloor spreading and mid-ocean ridge formation at separating oceanic plates
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Earth's Interior and Plate Tectonics

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