Divergent Plate Movement

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Plate Tectonics

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Divergent Plate Movement

A divergent plate movement occurs when two plates move away from each other. Magma from the mantle underneath the crust to rise up the surface to cool and solidify at the plate boundary. This divergent boundary is considered constructive since new crust is formed.

Divergent takes place at the boundary of the oceanic plates and forms new sea floor. This process is called sea-floor spreading.

As magma rises up to the surface, it piles up and solidifies, slowly forming a long chain of moutains on the ocean floor, called an oceanic ridge.

Volcanoes can also form undersea at these divergent boundaries, they are called submarine volcanoes and have gentle eruptions.

Other Types Of Plate Movements