The western margin of South America is a convergent plate boundary between the P
ID: 803848 • Letter: T
Question
The western margin of South America is a convergent plate boundary between the Pacific Plate made up of oceanic crust, and the South American Plate is made up of continental crust. There is an oceanic trench just offshore, and the volcanic Andes Mountains (magmatic arc) are inland.
The eastern margin of South America is a passive continental margin. This was located at a divergent plate boundary (180 mya) but now lies well within the South American plate.
Q: On which side of the South American continent (east or west) is the sea floor sediment thinnest? and In comparison to the South America’s western and eastern continental margin, is Africa's western margin (Atlantic margin) an active or passive continental margin?
Explanation / Answer
Sea floor sediment is thinner on the Western side of Southern American continent while eastern side of South american continent exhibit passive continental margin which are affected by build up of sediments.So western part experiences thinner sea floor sediment.
Africa's western margin (Atlantic margin) is passive continental margin as compared to south america's western and esatern continental margin.Africa's western margin exhibit less seismic activities and low volcanic activities and broad sediment deposits as compared to american continental margins
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