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Q: Which type of crust has higher density between oceanic or continental?
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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.


Is the highest density rock mainly found in the continental crust?

No, the highest density rock is found in the oceanic crust. This is commonly enriched in higher density elements such as magnesium and iron (hence the rocks are described as Mafic) as opposed to the Felsic rocks of the continental crust which have higher proportions of the less dense elements such as silicon and oxygen.


What is a characteristic of subduction?

The correct answers are - B. Where oceanic crust meets continental crust, and C. Earthquakes.Subduction zones appear only on places where a crust of lower density (oceanic crust) meets a crust of higher density (continental crust).On the places where the oceanic crust meets the continental crust, the oceanic crust goes beneath the continental crust, this makes changes and readjustments in the inner part of the crust, and plus there's significant pressure from the mantle layer from beneath, so earthquakes are a very common occurrence.Check all that apply. A. Broad river deltas B. Where oceanic crust meets continental crust C. Earthquakes D. Two continents collide


When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate which plate is subducted?

When an oceanic plate and a continental plate collide, the oceanic plate is always subducted. Oceanic plates are denser than continental plates, and they have a higher iron content. Since they are denser, oceanic plates always sink below the continental plate in the event of a collision.


What characteristics of continental crust allow it to float higher on the mantle than oceanic cruast?

Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust.

Related questions

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)


What and the difference between oceanic and continental?

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.


What happens when a plate gets subducted?

The colder, more dense plate is the one that subducts in a collision between two plates. In an oceanic to oceanic plate collision it is the older of the two plates that will subduct due to its higher density. In an oceanic to continental plate collision, it's the oceanic plate that will subduct because of its 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 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.


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 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)


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 the difference between continentalcrust and the oceanic?

Continental crust is thicker and less dense while oceanic crust is thinner and more dense, so essentially continental crust takes a higher position than oceanic crust. When oceanic and continental plates collide, oceanic plates slide underneath continental plates(if this makes what I said any clearer).