“Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab

© 2003 Ann Bykerk-Kauffman, Dept. of Geological and Environmental Sciences, California State University, Chico *

Purpose: To better understand the principles of the plate tectonics theory by

applying them to the past, present and future analysis of a theoretical planet.

Reading Assignment: Any passages on plate tectonics in your textbook.

Introduction
During this lab exercise, we will analyze the plate tectonics of part of a
mythical planet called Geoworld; a tectonic map of the area is shown on p. 9.
Geoworld has a plate tectonics system just like ours on Earth, only Geoworld is
flat instead of spherical. In answering the questions below, you may assume that
the movement rates for plates (both relative and absolute) are constant
throughout the time between your past and future reconstructions (they were,
however, quite different at one time - see Part 1, A., questions 6 and 7). All
questions are in bold face. Please put your answers in any blanks provided.

Part 1: Analysis of the Present State of Geoworld

A. Sea Floor Magnetic Anomalies

Geoworld has a magnetic field aligned in a north-south direction. The
polarity of this field reverses at random intervals through time, just as the
one on Earth does. The history of polarity of the magnetic field is well
known for the past 150 million years and is shown by the adjacent magnetic
polarity time scale. Shading represents normal polarity (the magnetic field
points north) while white represents reverse polarity (the magnetic field
points south).
Detailed aerial and ship-board magnetic surveys have been conducted
over the oceans of Geoworld. Parts of the sea floor have an extra strong
magnetic field while other parts have an extra weak magnetic field. Just as
on Earth, the areas with anomalously strong magnetic fields are composed of
rocks that are magnetized with the same polarity as the current field while
areas with anomalously weak magnetic fields are composed of rocks that are
magnetized with the opposite polarity as the current field. Portions of the
sea floor with an anomalously strong magnetic field are shaded; portions of
the sea floor with an anomalously weak magnetic field are unshaded.
Note that the magnetic anomalies form a striped pattern on the map of
Geoworld. Note also that the pattern in the Elrond Sea is symmetrical while
that in the Aragorn Ocean is asymmetrical. This is because there is an active
spreading ridge in the Elrond Sea but not in the Aragorn Ocean. The center
of symmetry in the Elrond Sea is right along the spreading ridge.

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2 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab

1. On the map on page 9, highlight the mid-ocean ridge in the Elrond Sea and label it the
Hobbit Ridge.

2. Draw a diagram and explain the origin of the striped magnetic anomaly pattern visible
in the Elrond Sea.

3. The pattern of positive and negative magnetic anomalies in the Elrond Sea can be
correlated with the pattern of normal and reversed magnetism on the magnetic
polarity time scale. Based on this correlation, how many million years (m.y.) ago did
sea floor spreading begin in the Elrond Sea?

Spreading Began ____ m.y. ago

4. Using the magnetic anomaly pattern in the Elrond sea, determine the 1/2-spreading
rate on the Hobbit Ridge (i.e., determine how fast the Frodo continent is moving away
from the Hobbit ridge). Give your answer in mm/y (millimeters per year). Show your
equations and explain where each number came from.
Useful Information: 1 cm (10 mm) on the map = 400 km on Geoworld
1 mm/y = 1 km/m.y. (kilometers per million years)
distance distance
distance = rate x time, rate = time , time = rate

1/2 spreading rate = ___ mm/y

5. What is the full spreading rate (in mm/y) of the Hobbit Ridge? (i.e., how fast are the
Bilbo and Frodo continents moving away from each other)? Show your equations and
explain where each number came from.

Full spreading rate = __ mm/y

 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab 3

6. Using the magnetic anomaly patterns in the Aragorn Ocean, determine when sea floor
spreading started to form the Aragorn Ocean crust (remember, spreading is not
actively going on now but it was at one time).

Spreading Started __ m.y. ago

7. At the time that active sea-floor spreading was occuring in the Aragorn Ocean, at
what rate was new sea-floor being created? (Think: is this related to the full
spreading rate or the half spreading rate)? Show your equations and explain where
each number came from.

Rate of formation of Aragorn Ocean crust = __ mm/y

B. Plate Boundaries
1. There are two plate boundaries on the map. You already highlighted one of them in
Part 1, A. 1. above. Highlight the other boundary also.

2. Give one example of each of the following types of plate boundaries on Geoworld
(Note: the boundary between two plates can vary in type from place to place).

Divergent boundaries
Convergent boundaries
Transform boundaries

3. How many lithospheric plates are there in all?

C. Cross-Section
4 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab

Make a schematic cross-section of Geoworld along A-A'. Draw it in the box provided
at the bottom of the map on page 9. Show the entire thickness of the lithosphere and part
of the asthenosphere. Label the crust, mantle lithosphere and asthenosphere.
D. Transform Faults
There are several transform faults in the Elrond Sea. The only parts of these faults that are
presently active are the parts between the segments of the Hobbit Ridge.
1. Using arrows, show the sense of motion on each of the active transform faults on the
map.

2. In the space below, draw a diagram and explain why the sense of motion on a
transform fault is the way it is.

E. Earthquakes
1. Describe three places on the planet of Geoworld where you would expect large numbers
of earthquakes.
a.

b.

c.

2. The vast majority of earthquakes are caused by movement on faults. What types of
faults would you expect at each location you described above (thrust, normal, strike-
slip)?

a.

b.

c.

3. For each location described above, record whether the earthquakes will have deep foci
and/or shallow foci.
a.
 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab 5

b.

c.
6 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab

F. The Origin of the Volcanic Islands

1. The Galadriel Islands, Gandalf Islands and Gollum Island are all made of volcanic
rocks. What are the difference in tectonic origin among these three groups of islands?

2. What type of volcanic rock would you expect Gollum Island to be composed of and
why?

G. Hot-spots and Absolute Movement Rates

1. Absolute motion of the Aragorn Ocean and the Bilbo Continent
Notice the Gandalf Islands. They are analogous to the Hawaiian Islands on Earth.
They form a linear chain that originated by the migration of the plate over a mantle hot spot.
Mantle hot spots are assumed to be fixed relative to the center of the planet.
All of the Gandalf islands are volcanic in origin but the easternmost and largest
island--which is sitting directly over the hot spot--is the only one with active volcanoes on
it. The rocks on the westernmost island have been dated by radiometric methods at 32 m.y.
Measure the distance between the centers of the westernmost and easternmost
Gandalf islands and use this information to calculate the absolute movement rate (in
mm/y) of the Aragorn Ocean (and the Bilbo Continent, which is connected to it).
Show your equations and explain where you got each of your numbers.
Helpful hint: Pay no attention to the magnetic anomalies when answering this
question.

Absolute movement rate of the Aragorn Ocean = ____ mm/y

 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab 7

2. From careful measurements taken by satellites, we know that the Sauron Trench and
the Galadriel Islands are fixed in position. At what speed (in mm/y) is the Bilbo
Continent moving toward the Galadriel Islands?

Speed of Bilbo Continent relative to Galadriel Islands = ____ mm/y

3. In what direction and how fast (in mm/y) is the Frodo Continent moving relative to the
Galadriel Islands? Show your equations and explain where each number came from.
Hint: Assign positive and negative signs to the different directions of motion.
Specific suggestion: make all plate motion to the right (east) have positive velocities and
make all plate motion to the left (west) have negative velocities.

Direction and speed of Frodo Continent relative to Galadriel Islands = _____ mm/y

toward the .

4. Is the Hobbit Ridge moving? If so, in what direction and how fast (in mm/y) is it
moving relative to the Galadriel Islands? Show your equations and explain where
each number came from.
8 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab

Direction and speed of Hobbit Ridge relative to Galadriel Islands = ____ mm/y

toward the .
Part 2: Analysis of Geoworld in the Past
A. Using the map on p. 11, cut along the margins of the Elrond Sea and put the Bilbo and Frodo
Continents back together in their original configuration, forming the Bilbo/Frodo
supercontinent. The Misty Mountains and the Rivendell Mountains are fold-and-thrust
mountains. The age of deformation in both mountain ranges is 200 million years before present.
How are the two mountain ranges related, if at all?

B. What type of plate tectonic event do they probably represent?

C. While the Elrond Sea has been opening, the Aragorn Ocean has been closing. Assuming
that (1) no sea-floor spread has taken place in the Aragorn Ocean for at least 65 million
years, and (2) subduction has been occurring for at least 65 million years, how wide was
the Aragorn Ocean along A-A' at the time spreading started in the Elrond Sea? Use the
Sauron Trench as the western boundary of the Aragorn Ocean. Show your equations and
explain where each number came from.

Width of Aragorn Ocean along A-A' at the time spreading

started in the Elrond Sea =

D. Move the Bilbo/Frodo supercontinent back to its original position at the time that spreading
started in the Elrond Sea. You have now reconstructed the complete plate tectonic picture of
the Geoworld planet at the time when spreading started in the Elrond Sea.
Tape or glue the cut-out pieces onto a blank page, carefully placing them in their correct
positions for the reconstruction. Label the following:
1. Bilbo/Frodo supercontinent 3. Sauron Trench
2. Aragorn Ocean 4. Galadriel Islands
 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab 9

E. Make a schematic cross-section of your past reconstruction of Geoworld along A-A'.

Show the entire thickness of the lithosphere and part of the asthenosphere.
Part 3: Analysis of the Future State of Geoworld
A. When will the Bilbo Continent and the Sauron Trench first collide? Show your equations
and explain where each number came from.

Time of Collision = ___ m.y. from now

B. How wide will the Elrond Sea be at that time? Show your equations and explain where
each number came from.

Width of Elrond Sea = ___ km

C. Cut out pieces as needed from the map on page 13 and use them to reconstruct the configuration
of the plates for the time of the first collision of the Bilbo continent with the Sauron trench
Tape or glue the cut-out pieces onto a blank page, carefully placing them in their correct
positions for the reconstruction. Label the following:
1. Galadriel Islands 4. Bilbo Continent 7. Frodo Continent
2. Sauron Trench 5. Hobbit Ridge
3. Aragorn Ocean 6. Elrond Sea

D. Make a schematic cross-section of your prediction for the future state of Geoworld along
A-A'. Show the entire thickness of the lithosphere and part of the asthenosphere.
10 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab

Plate Tectonic Map of Geoworld

“Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab 11
12 “Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab

Cut up this map to make past reconstruction of Geoworld.

“Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab 13
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Cut up this map to make future reconstruction of Geoworld.

“Geoworld” Plate Tectonics Lab 15