| Explorer plate | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Microplate |
| Coordinates | 49°30′N 129°30′W / 49.5°N 129.5°W |
| Approximate area | 18,000 km2 (6950 sq mi)[1] |
| Movement1 | north-east |
| Speed1 | Up to 20 mm/year [2] |
| Features | Pacific Ocean |
| 1Relative to the African plate | |
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The Explorer plate is an oceanic tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, which is partially subducted under the North American plate. Along with the Juan de Fuca plate and Gorda plate, the Explorer plate is a remnant of the ancient Farallon plate, which has been subducted under the North American plate. The Explorer plate separated from the Juan de Fuca plate roughly 4 million years ago.[3] In its smoother, southern half, the average depth of the Explorer plate is roughly 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) and rises up in its northern half to a highly variable basin between 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) and 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) in depth.
- ^ "Sizes of Tectonic or Lithospheric Plates". Geology.about.com. 2014-03-05. Archived from the original on 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
- ^ Riddihough, Robin (1984-08-10). "Recent movements of the Juan de Fuca Plate System". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 89 (B8): 6980–6994. Bibcode:1984JGR....89.6980R. doi:10.1029/JB089iB08p06980. ISSN 2156-2202.
- ^ Frank, Dave. "USGS Geology and Geophysics". geomaps.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-08.