As magma rises from the mantle to fill this gap, it cools and solidifies, forming new oceanic crust. As volcanic rock solidifies, it locks in the Earth's magnetic polarity at that moment.
Discovering the Mid Atlantic Ridge Youngest Rocks Age
The Ancient Question While the ridge itself is young, the crust it produces has a finite lifespan. 120 to 140 million years old Some of the oldest crust on this ridge, nearing the limits of current dating.
The oceanic crust created at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge eventually moves outward until it reaches a subduction zone, where it is recycled back into the mantle. 16 to 20 million years old The only part rising significantly above sea level due to a hotspot.
Discovering the Mid Atlantic Ridge Youngest Rocks Age
Here, the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate are pulling away from each other, while the African Plate and the South American Plate are doing the same on the opposite side. Because of this cycle of creation and destruction, the oldest rocks on the Atlantic seafloor are found at the edges of the continents, not in the middle.
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