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North Galapagos microplate

Coordinates: 3°45′N 101°45′W / 3.75°N 101.75°W / 3.75; -101.75
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North Galapagos microplate
TypeMinor
Movement1Counterclockwise 90 degrees
Speed1undefined
FeaturesPacific Ocean
1Relative to the African plate

The North Galapagos microplate is a small tectonic plate off the west coast of South America north of the Galápagos Islands.3°45′N 101°45′W / 3.75°N 101.75°W / 3.75; -101.75[1] It is rotating counterclockwise between three much larger crustal plates around it, the Nazca, Cocos and Pacific plates. To its south, another small microplate, the Galapagos Microplate is likewise rotating, but clockwise.[2] Both microplates "mesh" along the interface between them.

References

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  1. ^ "Columbia University Researchers Find Key to the Formation of New Seafloor Spreading Centers". December 3, 2002. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  2. ^ "Galapagos Microplate". February 23, 2005. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  • Bird, P. (2003) An updated digital model of plate boundaries, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 4(3), 1027, doi:10.1029/2001GC000252. [1]