Tectonism in geology is the science which deals with the constant movements of Earth's top structural layer, which is called lithosphere. Earth’s lithosphere is composed of rocks of varying density which drift as relatively rigid plates. Some of these geological plates are continental in origin; some are oceanic, and some, like the South American plate, a mixture of both continental and oceanic rocks.
These plates movements are caused by deep-seated forces, such as convection in the upper mantle, and crustal forces through push and pull mechanics between plates. Crustal displacement, augmented by magmatism, erosion, and deposition, trigger complex three-dimensional patterns.
In the history of Earth, plate architecture has changed over geologic time, but at this moment Earth’s lithosphere consists of seven major plates, including the South American plate, and numerous smaller plates and slivers.
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