Anatomy of a subduction zone Subduction zones are areas where plates collide and one plate is forced down

to be reclaimed by the mantle. (Often the plate margin is between an ocean plate an d a continental plate.) Sial The continental crust. Sima The oceanic crust. Age of rocks The oldest rock material is found where the plate that it is part o f dives into the mantle. This material was created at a mid-ocean ridge millions of years ago. Ocean trench When two plates collide and the plates are of different density, th e denser plate will subduct. As the denser plate subducts the great friction between the two plates pulls down the l eading edge of the other plate to create a very deep area in the ocean called a trench. Continental shelf Shallow, flat areas which extend from the shoreline to the drop-off at the trench are referred to as continental shelves. Continental shelves are generally sedimentary rock created from sediment carried down to the ocean by rivers. Along shorelines where there are no subduction zones, as along the east coast of North America, the continental shelves extend far out to sea. The entire Pacific Ocean shoreline from South America up to Alaska and south past Japan and the Philippines is lined with subduction zones, therefore, continental shelves are not very wide because of the deep ocean trench located a short distance offshore. Continental slope The steep drop-off from the continental shelf into the trench is known as the continental slope. Benioff zone The point where a subducting plate descends into the mantle. Here t here is enormous friction between the diving plate and the leading edge of the over-riding plate. Continual small earthquakes are created by the scraping together of the two plates. The movement here is not always smooth and the plate s may become stuck, at which time pressure begins to build. Eventually, the pressure will be released as the plate s suddenly lurch forward resulting in a major earthquake. This earthquake zone is referred to as the Benioff zone. Composite cone/andesite volcanoes The melting of the subducting plate creates an abundance of melted rock in the mantle and some of the melted material starts to work its way to the surface for ming steep-sided peaks called andesite volcanoes. These volcanoes made from andesite lava are snow-capped and picturesq ue. Washington State's Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker and Japan's Mount Fuji are examples of compos ite cones. Asthenosphere The upper part of the mantle, which is thought to be partly molten and 'plastic like'. Here convection currents flow and are the driving force behind plate movement. Convection currents Slow, circular movement of material caused by heating and co oling. Material rises as it heats and drops when it cools, resulting in constant movement.