What occurs at a divergent boundary?

At a divergent boundary, two tectonic plates move apart from each other. This process typically occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where magma rises from the mantle to create new oceanic crust as the plates separate. As the plates diverge, geological features such as rift valleys can also form on land. The movement of the plates allows for the continual replacement of older crust with newer material, playing a significant role in the cycling of Earth’s lithosphere.

This process is essential for understanding plate tectonics and the geological activity associated with these boundaries. In contrast, the other scenarios described involve interactions where plates either collide or slide horizontally, which are characteristic of convergent and transform boundaries, respectively. This differentiation highlights the unique mechanisms at work in plate tectonics and the resulting geological formations and phenomena.