Question

Describe the seafloor spreading process.

Answer 1

The seafloor spreading process is like a conveyor belt in the ocean. Magma rises up from the Earth's mantle at mid-ocean ridges, creating new oceanic crust. This new crust pushes the older crust away, making room for more new crust to form.

Answer 2

Seafloor spreading is the process of forming new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges and pushing apart the existing crust. It starts with a rapid drop of the seafloor caused by the weight of mountains, creating a concave basin. Sediments like shales are deposited in this basin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The seafloor spreading process is a fundamental concept in geology that explains the movement of Earth's tectonic plates. It occurs at mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is formed and pushes the existing crust apart. This process starts with a rapid drop of the seafloor caused by the weight of mountains, bending the lithosphere and creating a concave basin. Sediments such as shales are then deposited in this basin.