<h2>On a large scale yes.</h2>
<p>On a small scale you mostly get a complex mess of micro-plates created by the diverse forces.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/hjK6I.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/hjK6I.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ff4jA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ff4jA.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>A triple junction of any type of plate interaction can form, Japan has an all subduction triple junction.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-06-05T02:12:22.233Z
Ok, cool. This is on a large scale. The plates are all much larger than the South American plate.
Martamo
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2023-06-04T12:11:22.383Z
2023-06-04T12:20:09.690Z
2023-06-04T12:20:09.690Z
John
<p>At a triple junction plate boundary there are three tectonic plates meeting. We have plenty of examples of these boundaries on Earth, notably the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afar_Triple_Junction" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Afar Triple Junction</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendocino_Triple_Junction" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mendocino Triple Junction</a>, and the extinct <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Greenland_Triple_Junction" rel="nofollow noreferrer">South Greenland Triple Junction</a>. The majority of these junctions are divergent. But what if two of the three boundaries were convergent?</p>
<p>I am currently working on a fantasy world but thought this question was more appropriate for this SE. This is the triple junction I am asking about.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/1CmGx.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1CmGx.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>The arrows that go under the colored lines are where the subducting is. The salmon line is convergent and the mint line is divergent.</p>
<p>I was wondering if it was possible for a plate to both subduct another plate and also be subducted on basically the same boundary.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-06-04T10:40:12.197Z
I find your drawing a bit confusing as the right plate is moving two different directions?
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-06-04T12:00:13.520Z
@JeopardyTempest That was confusing, sorry. I also realized I had the wrong plates subducting.
Martamo
<geophysics><plate-tectonics><planetary-science>
Can a tectonic plate subduct under one plate while another plate subducts under it along the same boundary?
Martamo
# Can a tectonic plate subduct under one plate while another plate subducts under it along the same boundary?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-06-04)

At a triple junction plate boundary there are three tectonic plates meeting. We have plenty of examples of these boundaries on Earth, notably the [Afar Triple Junction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afar_Triple_Junction), [Mendocino Triple Junction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendocino_Triple_Junction), and the extinct [South Greenland Triple Junction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Greenland_Triple_Junction). The majority of these junctions are divergent. But what if two of the three boundaries were convergent?

I am currently working on a fantasy world but thought this question was more appropriate for this SE. This is the triple junction I am asking about.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/1CmGx.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/1CmGx.png)

The arrows that go under the colored lines are where the subducting is. The salmon line is convergent and the mint line is divergent.

I was wondering if it was possible for a plate to both subduct another plate and also be subducted on basically the same boundary.

**Tags:** geophysics, plate-tectonics, planetary-science

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I find your drawing a bit confusing as the right plate is moving two different directions?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 That was confusing, sorry. I also realized I had the wrong plates subducting.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-06-04. Score: 1

## On a large scale yes.

On a small scale you mostly get a complex mess of micro-plates created by the diverse forces.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/hjK6I.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/hjK6I.png)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ff4jA.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ff4jA.png)

A triple junction of any type of plate interaction can form, Japan has an all subduction triple junction.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ok, cool. This is on a large scale. The plates are all much larger than the South American plate.  

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