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How is the earth's crust under oceans different from the crust below the continents?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
The crust under the ocean is thinner than continental crust. Ocean crust is also, on average, richer in minerals containing iron and magnesium, giving it a greater density than continental crust. Imagine placing two slabs of wood next to each other in a swimming pool. The first slab will be thin piece of oak and the second will be thicker piece of pine. The pine, being less dense than the oak, will stick up higher in the water and at the same time will also ride lower in the water than the oak. Similarly, both ocean crust and continental crust float on the mantle (more specifically the asthenosphere which is a layer in the upper mantle). Ocean crust is like the oak and continental crust is like the pine. Ocean crust is composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt, gabbro, and peridotite. Continental crust is much more diverse in its composition, but on average is similar in density to granite.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
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Does the earths crust extend deeper below the continents or below the ocean basins?
Earths crust extend deeper below the continents than below the oceans basins (or at least this is what I think).
What continents and oceans are below the western hemisphere?
indian ocean and north america
If volcanoes get their magma from the crust below them what can you say about the silica content of Earths crust under the oceans?
You can say that it is low in silica. -I had this problem in my science class ^_^
What are oceans and continents?
There is 7 Continents around the globe.There is 4 Oceans around the globe i have listed them below:--PacificOcean--IndianOcean--ArticOcean--AtlanticOcean-(Altogether there are 11 continents and oceans)
What forces below earth surface shape landforms?
The tectonic plates below earths surface shape earths landforms
Is the passage between Australia and Antarctica getting smaller or bigger?
Your question is about the oceans and seas that occupy the space between these two continents. These levels have risen lately, as below, and the elevation is measured in millimeters. In terms of the distance to sail between these two continents, the difference is negligible.
What three continents are below the equator?
The three continents below the equator are Africa, Australia, and South America.
What ocean is below the equator?
There are seven continents on Earth. Australia and Antarctica are entirely below the equator. Africa, Asia and South America are both above and below the equator.
What is the Source of earths water under the surface?
To the best of my knowledge, the water under the surface was formed when the oceans were formed, or thereafter. In simple terms, cracks in the ground allows water to leak below ground into large open voids.
Continents map?
A map of the world with the continents is included in the link below.
Why do scientist believe that there was once just one supercontinent?
The geologic evidence points to, in the past, there being several "super continents" which contained most of the Earths land masses. See the animation linked to below.
Where is the earth crust the thickest?
Under continents
