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Why oceanic crust is always subducted underneath continental crust?
Due to the higher density of the oceanic crust it is subducted underneath the continental crust.
Oceanic crust is lighter than the continental crust?
No, the oceanic crust is denser. That's why the land areas "float" so much higher than the ocean bedrock.
What is a continental crust?
the continental crust is the plate crust formed under the continent (less density) as opposed to oceanic crustformed under the ocean(higher density)
Why is oceanic crust lower than the continental crust?
Oceanic crust is thinner and of greater density than continental crust.
Why is the main reason that oceanic crust is heavier than continental crust?
Oceanic crust is mafic in composition and continental crust is felsic in composition. Mafic minerals generally have a higher density than felsic minerals and therefore, the oceanic crust is heavier.
What is the density of continental crust and oceanic crust?
The specific gravity, on average, of continental crust is 2.7. For oceanic crust, it's 2.9.
Why is the oceananic crust more dense then the continental crust?
Oceanic crust is composed of minerals with a higher density than those found in continental crustal rock.
Why is oceanic denser than continental crust?
The oceanic crust is composed mainly of basalt, rich in iron and magnesium. The continental crust is composed mainly of granite, rich in aluminum. Although they are both rich in oxygen and silicon, the rocks that compose the oceanic crust are of higher density than the rocks that compose the continental crust.
What is the primary reason why the oceanic crust subducts below the continental crust and not vice versa when they collide together?
The oceanic crust subducts beneath the continental crust due to its higher density. Oceanic crust is basaltic and has a specific gravity of 3.3. Continental crust is granitic and has an average specific gravity of 2.9.
What is a Earth crust?
the continental crust is the plate crust formed under the continent (less density) as opposed to oceanic crustformed under the ocean(higher density)
Continental crust and the difference between oceanic crust?
Oceanic crust is mostly basaltic, which is denser, while continental crust is made from mostly basaltic and sedimentary rocks, which are less dense. This difference in density is why the oceanic crust sinks lower (thus the oceans) and the continental crust rides higher (thus the continents) on the mantle.
Why is the oceanic plate subducted when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?
The Oceanic plate is subducted under the Continental plate because oceanic crust is much more dense than continental crust. The average density of the oceanic crust is 3g/cm^3 while the average density of continental crust is 2.7g/cm^3.
