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Alvah Stokes

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2y ago
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14y ago

Because oceanic crust is gradually being created and subducted, it is newer than continental crust.

Continental crust "floats" on the denser mantle and resists being pulled into the earth where it could be melted into new rock. Oceanic crust gets subducted and "recycled" more often.

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15y ago

Oceanic lithosphere is recycled by subduction on timescales of about 200 - 300 million years depending on rate of sea floor spreading. Continental lithosphere does not undergo subduction due to its low density. Therefore, the continental lithosphere is older than oceanic lithosphere.

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10y ago

No. Ocean floor rocks are younger than continental rocks.

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14y ago

Yes. Oceanic crust is rarely over 200 million years in age. The oldest continental crustal rocks are around 4 billion years in age.

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11y ago

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10y ago

no. false

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Q: Is oceanic lithosphere lighter than continental lithosphere?
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Does continental lithosphere contain more mafic rocks than oceanic lithosphere?

No continental lithosphere contains more felsic rocks than oceanic lithosphere.


Why is oceanic lithosphere subducted while continental lithosphere is not?

The density of the continental (granitic) lithosphere is lower than oceanic (basaltic) lithosphere. Consequently, due to buoyancy, the continental crust rides above the oceanic lithosphere and thus is not subducted. However, it is thought that pieces of the continental lithosphere break off and are subducted along with the oceanic lithosphere.


Is continental crust darker in color than oceanic or lighter?

Continental crust is generally lighter than oceanic crust.


How is continental lithosphere different from oceanic lithosphere?

Continental plates are thicker and less dense. Continental plates are mainly granitic in composition. Oceanic plates are mainly basaltic in composition. The rock of continental plates is on average, much older than the rock of the oceanic plates. The oceanic plate underlies the oceans, and the continental plate makes up the land masses. Continental plates do not subduct at convergent plate boundaries.


C There are two types of tectonic plates oceanic and continental what is the difference between these two types of plates?

The lithosphere displaces the asthenoshpere. Thick tectonic plates, such as those made of continental crust, displace more asthenosphere than do thin plates, such as those made of oceanic lithosphere. The lithosphere displaces the asthenoshpere. Thick tectonic plates, such as those made of continental crust, displace more asthenosphere than do thin plates, such as those made of oceanic lithosphere.

Related questions

Why does oceanic lithosphere sink beneath convergent lithosphere at convergent boundaries?

As odd as it is to think of things this way, continental lithosphere is more buoyant than oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is more dense.


Does continental lithosphere contain more mafic rocks than oceanic lithosphere?

No continental lithosphere contains more felsic rocks than oceanic lithosphere.


Why does oceanic lithosphere sink beneath continental lithosphere at convergent boundary's?

As odd as it is to think of things this way, continental lithosphere is more buoyant than oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is more dense.


Why does oceanic lithosphere sinks beneath continental lithosphere at convergent boundaries?

As odd as it is to think of things this way, continental lithosphere is more buoyant than oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is more dense.


Why is oceanic lithosphere subducted while continental lithosphere is not?

The density of the continental (granitic) lithosphere is lower than oceanic (basaltic) lithosphere. Consequently, due to buoyancy, the continental crust rides above the oceanic lithosphere and thus is not subducted. However, it is thought that pieces of the continental lithosphere break off and are subducted along with the oceanic lithosphere.


How is continental lithosphere different oceanic lithosphere?

Continental lithosphere is thicker and less dense than oceanic lithosphere. Continental crust is primarily composed of granitic rock while oceanic crust is composed primarily of basaltic rock.


Is continental crust darker in color than oceanic or lighter?

Continental crust is generally lighter than oceanic 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.


Why is an oceanic plate always subducted but not a continental plate?

Continental plates are lighter (less dense) than oceanic plates.


How is continental lithosphere different from oceanic lithosphere?

Continental plates are thicker and less dense. Continental plates are mainly granitic in composition. Oceanic plates are mainly basaltic in composition. The rock of continental plates is on average, much older than the rock of the oceanic plates. The oceanic plate underlies the oceans, and the continental plate makes up the land masses. Continental plates do not subduct at convergent plate boundaries.


Which kind of earth's plates is heavier and which is lighter?

Continental plates are lighter than oceanic plates


C There are two types of tectonic plates oceanic and continental what is the difference between these two types of plates?

The lithosphere displaces the asthenoshpere. Thick tectonic plates, such as those made of continental crust, displace more asthenosphere than do thin plates, such as those made of oceanic lithosphere. The lithosphere displaces the asthenoshpere. Thick tectonic plates, such as those made of continental crust, displace more asthenosphere than do thin plates, such as those made of oceanic lithosphere.