Which type of boundaries are characterized by plates moving away from each other?

Divergent boundaries are defined by tectonic plates that are moving away from one another. This movement can lead to the formation of new crust, primarily through volcanic activity as magma rises from beneath the Earth’s surface. One of the most notable examples of divergent boundaries occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where the separation of plates allows magma to flow up and create new oceanic crust.

These boundaries are critical in understanding the dynamics of plate tectonics, as they contribute to the overall geological processes that shape the Earth's surface. By allowing new material to emerge and create more land, divergent boundaries play a key role in the recycling of the Earth's crust and the overall geothermal activity.

In contrast, transform boundaries involve plates sliding past one another, which can lead to earthquakes, while convergent boundaries are where plates move toward each other, often resulting in one plate being forced beneath another, creating subduction zones. Fault boundaries refer more broadly to the fractures along which movement has occurred and can encompass aspects of transform and other boundaries. This distinction helps underscore the unique characteristics and importance of divergent boundaries in the study of geology and mining engineering.