answersLogoWhite

0

What rock are continental plates made up of?

Updated: 8/16/2019
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

Best Answer

It is make up of Granite.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What rock are continental plates made up of?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What rock is continental plates made up of?

Continental Crust is the layer of rocks that forms the continents and continental shelves. It is mostly made of granite or granitic rock.


What are continental plates made of?

AnswerThe continental plates are made up of largely granitic rock, while the oceanic plates are largely basaltic rock. Certainly some other types of rock are included, but these are the largest contributors to the material or composition. A link is provided below for more information.


What is the main mineral that Continental and Oceanic plates are made up of?

Continental plates are composed of mainly granitic rock.


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.


What is the difference between oceanic and continental plates?

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.


Why are continental plates are made up of older rocks?

Continental Plates are made of old rocks because they are never created or destroyed. For example, when an earthquake occurs, it can be caused by one tectonic plate going underneath another. The plate that goes underneath is always an oceanic plate because the rock is of a higher density. So, in summary, continental plates are lighter than oceanic crust, so they are never destroyed (hence why they are made of old rock).


Why is oceanic plate denser than continental plate?

Oceanic plates are primarily made up of basaltic rock while continental plates are primarily made of granitic rock. Basalt is denser than granite which allows oceanic plates to subduct beneath continental plates.


How do converging continental plates create mountain ranges?

Mountain ranges are created at convergent plate boundaries. That is where two plates, either ocean and continental or continental and continental come together.


What are the large and small slabs of rock that meake up pieces of the lithosphere?

They are called lithospheric or tectonic plates, of which there are around 30 worldwide, encompassing the entire hard brittle surface layer of the Earth.


What makes up the continents and the ocean floor?

The continental and oceanic plates are primarily igneous rock. The continental crust is granitic and the oceanic crust is basaltic.


Is the earth a solid piece of rock?

No, it is made of rock but it is made up of many plates that move around the place cause earthquakes. The crust is rock but it is not solid all the way around. The plates are called tectonic plates and if you search "tectonic plates of the world" it should tell you where they are and what they are made up of.


What is the main mineral type that oceanic continental plates are made up of?

manganese