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The Oceanic Plates are younger than the continental because they are "recycled"; think of the oceanic ridges, such as the mid Atlantic oceanic ridge, that is where a hot spot under diverging plates (plates moving apart) push magma up, causing new young ocean floor to spread from this spot, and pushing the old floor into trenches and other continents, being destroyed. Another point to remember is that the ocean crust is thicker the farther away from the ridge; this is because it has had more time to build itself up compared to the more thin young crust.

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Skylar Hagenes

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Oceanic crust is than continental crust.?

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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 rock is denser continental or oceanic rock?

The average continental rock is less dense than the average oceanic rock. This is why when an oceanic and continental plate collide, the continental plate does not get subducted. There are varyations within the continental plates however, with some rocks being muck more dense and some being much less dense than the average.


What are two differences between the continental crust and oceanic crust?

The continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust. Oceanic crust is younger and primarily composed of basalt, while continental crust is older and made up of a variety of rock types, including granite and sedimentary rocks.


How does the density of oceanic crust differ from that of continental crust?

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust because it is primarily composed of basalt, which is a mafic rock with a higher density than the felsic rocks that make up continental crust. Additionally, oceanic crust is thinner and younger than continental crust, contributing to its higher density.


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.


How do continental crust differ from oceanic?

Continental crust is predominantly composed mostly of rock of a granitic composition, higher in silica and aluminum, with layers of sedimentary rock above. Oceanic crust is predominantly basaltic (higher in iron and magnesium), darker, thinner, more dense, and formed from rapid cooling of lava.


What accounts for the difference in density between oceanic and continental crust?

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust because it is made up of denser rock types, such as basalt, and it is also thinner and younger. Continental crust is less dense because it is composed of lighter rock types, such as granite, and is thicker and older due to the accumulation of layers over time.


Compared to earths continental crust earths oceanic crust is?

Earth's oceanic crust is thinner, denser, and younger than Earth's continental crust. It is primarily composed of basaltic rock, whereas continental crust is made up of less dense granitic rock. Oceanic crust is constantly being formed at mid-ocean ridges and destroyed at subduction zones.


What is the difference of continental crust and oceanic crust?

Two differences are that the oceanic crust is more dense than continental, and continental crust is composed mostly of granite, while oceanic is mostly basalt


How are the two types of crust different?

The two types of crust are oceanic and continental. Oceanic crust is thinner, denser, and younger than continental crust. Continental crust is thicker, less dense, and older, with more variety in rock types.


How do oceanic and continental crust differ?

Oceanic crust is typically thinner, denser, and younger than continental crust. It is primarily composed of basaltic rocks and forms the ocean floor, while continental crust is thicker, less dense, and contains a wider variety of rock types, including granitic rocks. Continental crust forms the continents and is older than oceanic crust.