A zone of divergence, also known as a spreading center, is a geological area where two tectonic plates of the Earth's lithosphere are moving apart from each other.
Understanding Divergent Zones
These zones are critical to the Earth's geology as they are sites of active crust formation. As the plates separate, molten rock, known as magma, rises from the mantle below to fill the gap. This erupting magma cools and solidifies, adding new material to the edges of the diverging plates and effectively forming new crust.
Key characteristics found in a zone of divergence include:
- Plate Separation: The fundamental feature is the movement of tectonic plates away from each other.
- Magma Eruption: Molten rock from the Earth's mantle erupts along the opening created by the plate separation.
- New Crust Formation: The erupted molten rock cools and solidifies, forming new oceanic crust or continental crust.
- Earthquake Activity: Earthquakes do occur along these zones, but they are typically relatively small in magnitude compared to those at other types of plate boundaries.
- Alternative Name: These zones are often referred to as spreading centers.
Zones of divergence are responsible for major geological features such as mid-ocean ridges (like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and rift valleys (like the East African Rift Valley). They represent a constructive type of plate boundary where the Earth's crust is continuously generated.
