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No. Continental rocks are much older. New sea floor is constantly being create and destroyed. At mid-ocean ridges, the sea floor spreads and magma from deeper in the Earth pushes up to create new ocean crust. At places where ocean plates contact continental plates, the ocean plate is often pushed underneath the continental plate, in a process called subduction. As the ocean plate is pushed back down into the Earth, the heat and the pressure melt it down, destroying it. Since continental plates are very rarely subducted, and, with the exception of places like Iceland where a mid-ocean ridge actually rises above sea level, generally rocks on the continent will be older.

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Which are younger old seafloor rocks or old continental rocks?

Old sea floor rocks are much younger than old continental rocks! This is because the oceanic lithospheric plate forming the seafloor tends to be recycled at places known as subduction zones where it is forced below less dense (commonly continental) lithosphere. As such the oldest continental rocks tend to be 2-3 billion years old whereas oceanic crust neve tends to be more than a few hundred million years old.


How does the age of rocks in the seafloor provide evidence of seafloor spreading?

The age of rocks gets progressively younger as you move away from the mid-ocean ridges, where seafloor spreading occurs. This supports the theory of seafloor spreading, as new crust is being formed at the ridges and then moves away from them over time. This process leaves a record of older rocks further from the ridges and younger rocks closer to them.


How does continental rock differ from seafloor rock?

Continental plates are massively granitic rock, oceanic plates massively basaltic rock, therefore continental rock is less dense than seafloor rock and has a different chemical and mineralogical composition.


How do the ages of the rocks on the seafloor support the theory of seafloor spreading?

The ages of the rocks become older the farther the way they are from the ridges. The closer they are the younger it is. This leaves evidence to the seafloor spreading theory.


How do the ages of the oldest sediments compare to the ages of the oldest continental rocks?

The oldest sediments are generally younger than the oldest continental rocks. Sediments are continuously being deposited on the Earth's surface, while continental rocks have undergone processes of solidification and deformation over billions of years. This means that the oldest continental rocks are usually much older than the oldest sediments.

Related Questions

Are continental rocks or oceanic rocks older?

Continental Rocks are older


Which are younger old seafloor rocks or old continental rocks?

Old sea floor rocks are much younger than old continental rocks! This is because the oceanic lithospheric plate forming the seafloor tends to be recycled at places known as subduction zones where it is forced below less dense (commonly continental) lithosphere. As such the oldest continental rocks tend to be 2-3 billion years old whereas oceanic crust neve tends to be more than a few hundred million years old.


How are rocks near continents different from rocks found near centers of seafloor spreading?

Rocks near continents are typically older and more varied in composition, while rocks near centers of seafloor spreading are younger and primarily composed of basalt. Continental rocks may have undergone more geological processes, leading to greater diversity in mineral content and structure, whereas seafloor rocks are usually basaltic due to the solidification of magma from undersea volcanic activity.


How much older are the oceanic rocks than the continental rocks?

Oceanic rocks are generally younger than continental rocks, with oceanic crust averaging about 200 million years old and continental crust averaging about 2.5 billion years old. This is due to the process of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is constantly being formed and pushing older crust away.


How would the age of the oldest rock on the continents compare with the age of the oldest rock on the seafloor?

The sea floor is young (the rocks are made at the mid oceanic ridges and spread out form there) while most of the continental rocks are older. This is because the continental crust floats on top of the oceanic crust and is therefore not recycled.


How does the age of rocks in the seafloor provide evidence of seafloor spreading?

The age of rocks gets progressively younger as you move away from the mid-ocean ridges, where seafloor spreading occurs. This supports the theory of seafloor spreading, as new crust is being formed at the ridges and then moves away from them over time. This process leaves a record of older rocks further from the ridges and younger rocks closer to them.


How do the ages of the rocks on the ocean floor support the theory of seafloor spreading?

The ages of the rocks become older the farther the way they are from the ridges. The closer they are the younger it is. This leaves evidence to the seafloor spreading theory.


How does continental rock differ from seafloor rock?

Continental plates are massively granitic rock, oceanic plates massively basaltic rock, therefore continental rock is less dense than seafloor rock and has a different chemical and mineralogical composition.


How do the ages of the rocks on the seafloor support the theory of seafloor spreading?

The ages of the rocks become older the farther the way they are from the ridges. The closer they are the younger it is. This leaves evidence to the seafloor spreading theory.


How does seafloor spearing and continental drift link together?

Seafloor spreading and continental drift are linked through the theory of plate tectonics. Seafloor spreading occurs at mid-oceanic ridges, where new crust is formed and pushes apart the plates on either side. This process helps drive the movement of continents, as the newly formed crust pushes older crust away from the ridges and towards the continents, contributing to the overall process of continental drift.


How do the ages of the oldest sediments compare to the ages of the oldest continental rocks?

The oldest sediments are generally younger than the oldest continental rocks. Sediments are continuously being deposited on the Earth's surface, while continental rocks have undergone processes of solidification and deformation over billions of years. This means that the oldest continental rocks are usually much older than the oldest sediments.


How do the ages of rock on the ocean floor support the theory of seafloor spreading?

The ages of the rocks become older the farther the way they are from the ridges. The closer they are the younger it is. This leaves evidence to the seafloor spreading theory.