Mountains and Plate Tectonics Study Guide: Due Day of Test!
1. Who came up with the theory of plate tectonics and what did he use as evidence?
2. Draw the different layers of the earth and their characteristics. Where are the
continents and plates located (which layer)? In your drawing include and label the
following: Core, Athenoshpere, Lithosphere, Convection Current (hot and cold areas),
Plates.
3. What are the three main types of plate boundaries- be able to explain each. What are
their characteristics? What features and/or types of mountains are created by each type of
boundary?
4. What specific type of plate boundary is primarily responsible for the ring of fire?
5. What type of boundary creates a rift valley?
6. Illustrate how a hot spot functions? What does it create? How can you tell where the
plate is moving?
7. What rock type are the seafloors? Are they more dense or less dense than the
continents? What rock type are the continents?
8. Which rocks are younger, sea floor rocks or continental? Why?
9. What is the difference between an active and passive continental margin? Give
examples of each.
10. What is a syncline? Anticline? Limb? Draw a picture of each
10a. Be able to identify the oldest/youngest rocks in a fold.
11. What are the four types of mountains? Know local/world examples of each.
12. What is a batholith and a laccolith? Which mountain type are they related to? What
are two local examples of each?
13. What are our local
 Cuestas?
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Hogbacks?
Domed mountains?
Fault-block mountain?
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Volcano?
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Folded?
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Sill?
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Dike?
Stock?
14. What is the difference between a joint and a fault? Which is better to climb?
15. Why do folded mountains often lack igneous rocks?
16. Be able to read tectonic maps and identify tectonic boundaries.
17. Be able to use a geologic map to identify mountain features such as cuestas, hog
backs, etc…
18. What are the different types of basaltic lava?
19. How does silica content affect lava flow?
20. Around what geologic features can you find volcanic activity?
Here are some examples of what you could see on the test. Study, identify, and be
able to interpret these pictures. I encourage to look on Google Images to help
prepare for the test. Type in things like: Collision boundaries, fault block
mountains, active margin, folded mountains, etc…