Tectonic plates are the result of the mantle cooling on the surface. At plate boundaries or "zones" occure, there are different reactions along the edges of them. Divergent is when two plates move away from one another allowing fresh molten rock to flow to the surface. This results in a volcano. Covergent boundaries are when plates come together, resulting in mountain ranges. Transforming boundaries are when they slide up against each other causing earthquakes. More examples of proof of plate tectonics is the changing of Pangea into the world as we know it and subduction zones that reveal fossils that were deeply buried under layers of earth.