Intro to the History of Earth and Plate Tectonics

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Across
  1. 3. Spreading The process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma rises to Earth's surface and solidifies at a mid-ocean ridge.
  2. 5. The study of the alignment of magnetic minerals in rock, specifically as it relates to the reversal of Earth's magnetic poles.
  3. 8. Boundary The boundary between tectonic plates that are moving away from each other.
  4. 9. The boundary between tectonic plates that are colliding.
  5. 11. The solid outer layer of Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle.
  6. 13. The scientific study of the origin, history, and structure of Earth
  7. 14. Drift The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations.
Down
  1. 1. Ridges Undersea mountain ranges through the center of which run steep, narrow valleys.
  2. 2. Boundary Boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other.
  3. 4. Wegener German scientist who proposed the continental drift hypothesis in 1912.
  4. 6. The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere, that is made of mantle rock that flows very slowly allowing tectonic plates to move on top of it.
  5. 7. A crack in the Earth's crust.
  6. 10. Tectonics The theory that explains how large pieces of the lithosphere, called plates, move and change shape.
  7. 12. The layer of rock between Earth's crust and core