The New Madrid Fault is an ancient fault in the middle of the United States that extends through several states. It formed when the North American Plate tried to move in opposite directions. What type of plate boundary was this?
a. transform boundary
b. convergent boundary
c. divergent boundary
d. subducation boundary
b. convergent boundary
b. convergent boundary
To determine the type of plate boundary at the New Madrid Fault, we need to consider the movement of the tectonic plates involved.
In this case, the North American Plate was trying to move in opposite directions. To find the correct type of plate boundary, let's go through the options:
a. Transform Boundary: This occurs when two plates slide horizontally past each other. There is no indication of horizontal sliding in opposite directions, so this option can be ruled out.
b. Convergent Boundary: This occurs when two plates collide. While the North American Plate may have experienced some compression and stress, it did not collide with another plate. This option can also be ruled out.
c. Divergent Boundary: This occurs when two plates move away from each other, causing the creation of new crust. There is no evidence of plates moving away from each other at the New Madrid Fault, so this option is unlikely.
d. Subduction Boundary: This occurs when one plate is forced beneath another plate, usually caused by the denser plate sinking into the mantle. There is no evidence of one plate going beneath another at the New Madrid Fault.
Based on the given information, none of the above options are an exact match for the New Madrid Fault. The correct answer may not be included in the given options.
However, considering the movement of the plates and the fact that the fault was created when the North American Plate tried to move in opposite directions, a more accurate classification for the New Madrid Fault would be a type of intraplate earthquake, specifically an intracontinental rift. In other words, it is a fault within a tectonic plate, resulting from internal forces rather than occurring at a plate boundary.