Archean plate tectonics resulted in collisions and suturing of volcanic arcs,oceanic basalt plateaus,and rifts into buoyant crustal blocks called
A) mantle plumes.
B) subduction zones.
C) greenstone belts.
D) protocontinents.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Archean plate tectonics is characterized by the accretion of small crustal blocks called protocontinents, which were formed by the collision and suturing of volcanic arcs, oceanic basalt plateaus, and rifts. These protocontinents were separated by oceanic basins where new oceanic crust was constantly being formed. The term greenstone belts refers to particular types of rocks found in Archean terranes that are believed to have formed in an early stage of the Earth's history, but not all Archean crust is composed of greenstone belts. Mantle plumes and subduction zones are not direct results of Archean plate tectonics; mantle plumes are thought to have played a role in the formation of some Archean crust, but they are not a defining feature of Archean tectonics. Subduction zones, which result from one plate subducting beneath another, are a typical feature of modern plate tectonics, but they did not become widespread until later in Earth's history.

Archean Plate Tectonics Resulted in Collisions and Suturing of Volcanic