Spencer Z. answered • 03/27/19
BA in Geology with 5+ Years of Tutoring Experience
There are two types of 'plates'- oceanic and continental. But there are 3 types of plate boundaries. Plate boundaries are the way these two different types of crust interact with each other due to plate tectonics. There are convergent margins (subduction zones, continental collision), divergent margins, and transform boundaries.
In convergent margins, two plates are pushing against each other and the oceanic plate can slide underneath the continental plate (subduction) or the two plates can collide and rise up to form mountain ranges (continental collision). The reason there are two types of convergent boundaries is because of the different densities of the two types of crust.
In divergent margins, two plates are pulling apart. The best example of this is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is where new oceanic crust is formed-- lots of volcanos!
Transform boundaries is where the two plates slide past each other with no pushing together or pulling apart.
