Plate Boundary Crustal Features

The crust is Earth's outermost layer. It is the thinnest layer and is made of solid rock. The ground that we live on is part of the crust. 

• Oceanic crust is under the oceans. Compared to continental crust, oceanic crust is thinner, and it is made of denser rock, such as basalt.

• Continental crust makes up the continents. Compared to oceanic crust, continental crust is thicker, and it is made of less dense rock, such as granite.

The mantle is just below the crust and makes up most of Earth's volume. This layer is made almost entirely of solid rock. Because the mantle is so thick, the temperature and pressure increase greatly from the uppermost part to the deepest part.

• The uppermost part of the mantle is the coolest part. It is made of solid rock that is completely rigid.

• The middle part is hotter, so the rock there is softer. It can bend and flow.

• The inner part of the mantle is even hotter than the two upper parts. It is also under intense pressure, which squeezes the rock together. So, even though the rock is very hot, the high pressure keeps the rock from melting.

• Lithosphere : Earth's crust & uppermost part of the mantle

Plate Boundaries

 Located under oceans. Compared to continental crust, oceanic crust is thinner, and it is made of denser rock, such as basalt.

Continental Crust-  Makes up the continents. Compared to oceanic crust, continental crust is thicker, and it is made of less dense rock, such as granite

• As the oceanic crust subducts, a deep-sea trench forms at the plate boundary.

• Rock in the subducting plate melts to form magma and rises toward the surface of the other plate.  This creates a string of volcanoes called a volcanic arc.

Divergent Boundary