continent convergent boundaries

clockwise

Each of these types of plate boundaries is associated with different geological features. Typically, a convergent plate boundary—such as the one between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate—forms towering mountain ranges, like the Himalaya, as Earth’s crust is crumpled and pushed upward.

The Philippine Sea Plate. The Philippine Sea plate is tectonically unusual in that almost all the boundaries are convergent. The Pacific plate is subducting beneath the Philippine Sea plate to the east while the west/northwestern part of the Philippine Sea plate is subducting beneath the continental Eurasian plate.

Divergent boundaries

• The East African Rift (Great Rift Valley) in eastern Africa.
• The Mid-Atlantic Ridge system separates the North American Plate and South American Plate in the west from the Eurasian Plate and African Plate in the east.
• The Gakkel Ridge is a slow spreading ridge located in the Arctic Ocean.

There are two types of divergent boundaries, categorized by where they occur: continental rift zones and mid-ocean ridges.

What is the difference between a divergent and convergent plate boundary? A divergent (constructive) plate boundary is one where the two plates are moving APART from each other in opposite directions. A convergent (destructive) plate boundary is one where the two plates are moving TOWARDS each other.

Divergent boundaries — where new crust is generated as the plates pull away from each other. Convergent boundaries — where crust is destroyed as one plate dives under another.

Melting at convergent plate boundaries has many causes. As the sediments subduct, the water rises into the overlying mantle material and lowers its melting point. Melting in the mantle above the subducting plate leads to volcanoes within an island or continental arc.