There are three main types of plate boundaries:

i). Convergent boundaries: where two plates are colliding . Contraction zones occur when one or both of the tectonic plates are composed of oceanic crust. The denser plate is contracted underneath the less dense plate. The plate being forced under is eventually melted and destroyed.

ii). Divergent boundaries – where two plates are moving apart.

The space created can also fill with new crustal material sourced from molten magma that forms below. Divergent boundaries can form within continents but will eventually open up and become ocean basins.

iii). Transform boundaries – where plates slide passed each other.

The relative motion of the plates is horizontal. They can occur underwater or on land, and crust is neither destroyed nor created. Because of friction, the plates cannot simply glide past each other. Rather, stress builds up in both plates and when it exceeds the threshold of the rocks, the energy is released – causing earthquakes.