Divergent boundaries are not one, smooth ridge of separation. Instead, they are broken into a series of segments, with different segments of fault offset from others. What features allow for the offset of divergent boundaries?

Question

Geography

Willow Lutz

9 December, 07:00

Divergent boundaries are not one, smooth ridge of separation. Instead, they are broken into a series of segments, with different segments of fault offset from others. What features allow for the offset of divergent boundaries?

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Answers (1)

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Teagan Pugh · Answer 1

Divergent continental plate motion resulting in the formation of normal fault, rift and rift valley

Explanation:

In the case of continental divergent plate motion, the plates get separated due to the extensional (tensile) stress. This results in the breaking apart of the landmass.

Initially, a rift forms which marks the zone of separation of the plate, and along which the magma rises upwards and deposits on the ocean floor. This leads to the formation of normal faults on both sides, where the hanging wall goes down. These down-going blocks represent the central portion of the crust along which the plates diverge. With the further separation of plates, the faults increase in numbers and appear in series and eventually leads to the formation of a valley, which is commonly known as the rift valley. This rift valley later turns into a water body such as a sea or an ocean, after millions of years.