Plate Tectonics

Latest about plate tectonics

earthquake map

Tons of Major Quakes Have Rattled the World Recently. Does That Mean Anything?

By Kimberly Hickok published

Yes, California will have a big earthquake, but the chances of "the big one" happening now didn't suddenly increase.

Earthquakes
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Something Is Sucking Iron Out of Earth's Crust, and Scientists Think They Know What

By Brandon Specktor published

Earth would look a lot more like Mars if a mysterious mineral wasn't sucking iron out of the planet's crust. Scientists think they now know the culprit — and it's a gemstone.

Geology
A bird's-eye view of a gorge in the East African Rift at Engaruka, Tanzania.

Africa Is Splitting in Two, and Here's the Proof

By Laura Geggel published

A gaping gash just opened up in Africa's Rift Valley. Here's why.

Geology
A hardwood forest at peak fall color reflects in Shadow Lake, north of Lincoln, New Hampshire, White Mountain National Forest.

Unusual 'Blob' of Hot Rock Found Beneath New England

By Andrea Thompson published

What caused the blob — and if there are others like it — remain mysteries.

Geology
Oregon Beach Ocean Shore

Where in the Pacific Northwest Will the Next Monstrous Earthquake Strike?

By Dan Robitzski published

Earthquakes
earth spinning

Tiny Slowdown in Earth's Rotation Could Unleash Major Earthquakes

By Tia Ghose published

The slowdown in Earth's rotation could trigger more earthquakes next year, new research suggests.

Earthquakes
Debris of a destroyed building after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake jolted central Mexico on Sept. 19, 2017.

What Caused Mexico's 2 Major Earthquakes in 2 Weeks?

By Andrea Thompson published

It's possible the quakes happened independently of each other.

Earthquakes
In the 20th century, Mexico was hit by hundreds of earthquakes, including about 20 magnitude-6.5 or higher quakes that struck around Mexico City.

Were Mexico's Recent Earthquakes Related?

By Dan Robitzski published

Over the past two weeks, Mexico has experienced a lot of shaking.

Earthquakes
Granite that's 3.2 billion years old sits next to sedimentary rocks that date back 3 billion years at White Mfolozi Inlier, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

Plate Tectonics May Have Begun a Billion Years After Earth's Birth

By Stephanie Pappas published

The differentiation of oceanic and continental crust could date back 3.5 billion years.

Geology
The Juan Fernandez Chain (outlined by the white rectangle) on the Nazca Plate west of Chile was formed by a hot spot now at the western end of the chain as the Nazca moved east-northeast relative to the hotspot forming the chain that includes Alejandro Se

Volcanic Hotspots Are Relative Slowpokes, Study Finds

By Andrea Thompson published

Plumes of hot rock can help track tectonic plates.

Volcanos
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