Which statement about oceanic divergent boundaries is true?

Which statement about oceanic divergent boundaries is true?

• A. Usually located along coastlines.
• B. New oceanic crust is formed.
• C. They do not involve magma.
• D. They occur only at subduction zones.

Answer: (B)

Oceanic divergent boundaries are places where two oceanic plates move apart, and magma from the mantle welts up to fill the gap, solidifying to form new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges. This seafloor spreading builds fresh crust as the plates push away, so the statement that new oceanic crust is formed is true. These boundaries aren’t typically along coastlines; they reside in the open ocean along the ridges. Magma is involved in the process, so the idea that magma isn’t involved doesn’t fit. They aren’t limited to subduction zones; subduction occurs at convergent boundaries, not at divergent ones.

Oceanic divergent boundaries are places where two oceanic plates move apart, and magma from the mantle welts up to fill the gap, solidifying to form new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges. This seafloor spreading builds fresh crust as the plates push away, so the statement that new oceanic crust is formed is true. These boundaries aren’t typically along coastlines; they reside in the open ocean along the ridges. Magma is involved in the process, so the idea that magma isn’t involved doesn’t fit. They aren’t limited to subduction zones; subduction occurs at convergent boundaries, not at divergent ones.