Plate Tectonics
Latest about plate tectonics
![A microscopic view of a thin piece of polished rock from Jack hills. A gypsum plate on the microscope allowed scientists to see a rainbow spectrum of quartz. Rocks from Jack Hills are 99% quartz, and the remaining 1% includes precious zircons.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kkof6JVVGSrzbgWTqg2zbL-320-80.jpg)
Plate tectonics are 3.6 billion years old, oldest minerals on Earth reveal
By Laura Geggel published
The hidden chemistry of ancient zircon crystals has revealed the age of Earth's tectonic plates.
![Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula has been shaken by more than 20,000 earthquakes this week. Scientists expect an imminent volcanic eruption.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MvYq2fmMpjAutRQTYDDj9F-320-80.jpg)
Swarm of 20,000 earthquakes could make Iceland's volcanoes erupt
By Brandon Specktor published
A swarm of more than 20,000 earthquakes has rattled southern Iceland this week, and geologists suspect a volcanic eruption is on the way.
![The supercontinent of Nuna-Rodinia broke up at the end of the Proterozoic era, ending a billion years of no new mountain formation, a new study says.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WFiC9hx6TT4oEuRQyfM3xe-320-80.jpg)
Earth's mountains disappeared for a billion years, and then life stopped evolving
By Brandon Specktor published
For a billion years Earth's mountains stopped growing, and may have starved the sea of nutrients, new research finds.
![The ocean from a fisheye point of view.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PBwTwPhNHqHE294xqxrPed-320-80.jpg)
The Atlantic Ocean is widening. Here’s why.
By Yasemin Saplakoglu published
Sizzling-hot rocks are rising up and pushing on the plates on either side of the Atlantic.
![Blue marble Earth from above.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rs4M7sMM7FcN36LfvwUz3-320-80.jpg)
'Lost' tectonic plate called Resurrection hidden under the Pacific
By Stephanie Pappas published
A new computer reconstruction of the tectonic plates of 60 million years ago reveals the existence of a lost plate called Resurrection.
![This is what the globe would look like 170 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gJEPGReCXYd8EMRoR3CmbL-320-80.png)
Visit NYC in 750 million B.C. with this epic interactive map
By Yasemin Saplakoglu published
A new interactive map visualizes how Earth's continents evolved from about 750 million years ago to today.
![California Hills seen near the San Andreas Fault in California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HLabt3FyyN26FTT9UZbS95-320-80.jpg)
Weird, Z-shaped faults could trigger a large earthquake on California's San Andreas Fault
By Laura Geggel published
A big earthquake at Ridgecrest could trigger the Garlock fault, which would in turn trigger the San Andreas.
![True color satellite image of the Earth centred on Asia and Oceania](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jsXboSGSpBmHK8TJqXLEPQ-320-80.jpg)
Giant tectonic plate under Indian Ocean is breaking in two
By Laura Geggel published
The India-Australia-Capricorn plate is breaking up at a rate of about 2 millimeters a year.
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