Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust. As a result, over time, continental crust is harder to "recycle". Rocks are recycled when they are subducted and remelted. Since continental crust is harder to subduct (it wants to keep floating), it is not recycled as much as oceanic crust, which is dense and will sink and remelt.
The oldest continental crust would be between three and one half to four billion years older than the oldest oceanic crust. This is due to the fact that ocean plates are subducted under the continental plates, subjected to partial melt and essentially recycled in the mantle before reforming.
The oldest continental crust would be between three and one half to four billion years older than the oldest oceanic crust. This is due to the fact that ocean plates are subducted under the continental plates, subjected to partial melt and essentially recycled in the mantle before reforming.
The continental shelf is normally made out of continental crust, the oceanic crust begins at the base of the continental rise. However in most places the oceanic crust near the continental margins is covered by continental sediments (eroded form the continents) carried down onto the Oceanic planes by deep sea canyons running off the continental rises.
No, the oceanic crust is denser. That's why the land areas "float" so much higher than the ocean bedrock.
Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.
Continental crust is far older than oceanic crust.
It is not. The oceanic crust is thinner than the continental crust!
Continental crust is much older, granitic in nature, and less dense than oceanic crust which is composed of basaltic rock. Oceanic crust is in a constant state of creation and destruction through the processes of plate tectonics. Oceanic crust is also considerably less thick than continental crust.
Continental 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.
The Oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust
Continental crust is the thicker of the two: it extends far beneath and above the Oceanic crust.