EarthRef.org Digital Archive (ERDA) -- Rift Valley and Ocean Basin Formation

Description
This series of images illustrates how a rift that forms within continental crust eventually leads to the creation of an ocean basin. First, ultra hot magma is released from the mantle-core boundary. This heat travels upward by convection and creates tension with continental crust as it pulls the crust in opposite directions (first image). Eventually the tension is great enough to pull the crust apart, allowing magma to rise up into the newly created spreading center and form ocean crust (more dense than continental crust). Over time, the crust has been pulled far enough apart, forming an ocean basin.

Keywords
ERESE, divergent plate boundary, divergent plate margin, creation divergent, formation divergent, oceanic formation, seafloor spreading, spreading centers

Copyright Owner
Enduring Resources for Earth Science Education (ERESE)

Copyright Description
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