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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.
Melvin Sipes
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe 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.
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Which is denser Oceanic Crust or Continental Crust?
The Oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust
Oceanic crust is what than continental crust?
Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.
Can oceanic crust sink?
It is denser than continental crust.
Differences of the continental crust and oceanic crust?
Thickness - continental = much thickerDensity - oceanic crust is denser than continental, which is why the oceanic crust subducts under the continental at destructive plates boundaries.
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.
Is the continental crust thinner and denser in most areas than the oceanic crust?
No, in fact it is the opposite. The continental crust is thicker and less dense than the oceanic crust.
Compare and contrast oceanic crust and continental crust?
Continental crust is much thicker than oceanic crust. However, continental crust is denser and will therefore sink in subduction zones.
Why does ocenaic crust sink beneath the continental crust at a subduction boundary?
The oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust.
Why does the oceanic sink beneath continental crust at convergent boundaries?
The continental crust is less dense than the oceanic crust. That's the reason we find that the oceanic crust sinks (subducts) beneath the continental crust.Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust and so cannot sink below it.
Why is the oceanic crust is more active than the continental crust?
This is because the Oceanic Crust is denser and thinner than the Continental Crust and is actively being created by the forces of the magma at different mid-oceanic ridges.
Why does oceanic crust dive underneath continental crust?
This process is known as subduction and occurs at convergent plate boundaries because oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.
Is the earth's crust thicker under the ocean?
Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.
