How does plate tectonics affect the rock cycle?
1 Answer
The sedimentary rocks in the ocean are pushed under the continental crust and turned into metamorphic and igneous rocks.
Explanation:
The ocean sediments that form on the top of the Ocean plates get pushed under the the Continental plates at the converging subduction zones.
The rocks of the Ocean plates get compressed under heat and pressure and turned into metamorphic rocks.
The rocks of the Ocean plates that get pushed further under the continental plates get melted and turned into igneous rocks. These melted rocks form volcanos along the edges of the subduction zones, such as the Pacific ring of fire. The melted rocks that do not make it to the surface form magma that cools into granite and other igneous rocks.
The question is how any sedimentary rocks survive to form sedimentary layers on the continental plates.
