obduction

American  

[uhb-duhk-shuhn] / əbˈdʌk ʃən /

noun

plural

obductions

1. Geology. the movement of a tectonic plate so that its edge overlaps that of an adjacent plate, typically oceanic lithosphere over continental lithosphere.

2. any other movement resulting in overlap or overlay of something.

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obduction Scientific  

/ ŏb-dŭk′shən /

1. A geologic process in which the edge of a tectonic plate consisting of oceanic crust is thrust over the edge of an adjacent plate consisting of continental crust.

2. Compare subduction

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Explanation

In geology, obduction is the process where a tectonic plate lying under the ocean is pushed up over the top of an adjacent plate. When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, it usually results in subduction, with the denser ocean crust sliding under the thick part of the earth's crust. Less often, obduction occurs, and the oceanic plate ends up on top. Geologists can tell this happened long ago from the presence of certain kinds of rocks and lava. In the U.S., the Appalachian Mountains were formed by obduction. The word's Latin roots are ob-, "toward," and ducere, "to lead."

Example Sentences

As pieces of the continental lithosphere break loose and migrate upward through the obduction zone, they bring along bits of the mantle and ocean floor and amend them on top of the continental plate.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017