Rifting

Rifting occurs when Earth's crust stretches and pulls apart over time, creating a series of fractures or faults. This process happens typically in tectonic plate boundaries, where plates diverge. As the crust thins, it may eventually break into separate sections, forming features like rift valleys, new ocean basins, or volcanic activity. Rifting is a key part of plate tectonics, driving geological changes and the formation of new crust. It signals the early stages of the crust's division, eventually leading to the creation of new oceanic regions as magma rises and solidifies in the cracks.