More Info on ChasmSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
redirect|ChasmOther usesIn geology , a rift or chasm is a place where the Earth|Earth's Crust (geology)|crust and lithosphere are being pulled apart http://www.mantleplumes.org/VM_DecompressMelt.html Decompressional Melting During Extension of Continental Lithosphere, Jolante van Wijk, MantlePlumes.org and is an example of extensional tectonics . http://www.le.ac.uk/geology/art/gl209/lecture4/lecture4.html Plate Tectonics: Lecture 2, Geology Department at University of Leicester
Typical rift features are a central linear Fault (geology)|downfaulted segment, called a graben , with parallel normal faulting and rift-flank uplifts on either side forming a rift valley , where the rift remains above sea level. The axis of the rift area commonly contains volcanic rocks , and active volcanism is a part of many, but not all active rift systems.
Major rifts occur along the central axis of mid-ocean ridge s, where new oceanic crust and lithosphere is created along a divergent boundary between two tectonic plate s.
Failed rifts are where continental rifting began, but then failed to continue to the point of break-up. Typically the transition from rifting to spreading develops at a triple junction where three converging rifts meet over a Hotspot (geology)|hotspot . Two of these evolve to the point of seafloor spreading, while the third ultimately fails, becoming an aulacogen .
Examples
The East African Rift
The Red Sea Rift
The Baikal Rift Zone , the bottom of Lake Baikal is the deepest continental rift on the earth.
