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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.

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What is the primary force that cause the seafloor to spread and continental to drift?

The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. This process is driven by the movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which generates forces that push apart tectonic plates, leading to seafloor spreading and continental drift.


How does the rock under the continents differ from rock under the oceans?

The rock of the continental crust is mostly granitic in composition, meaning it is a high silicate intrusive igneous rock. The rock of the oceanic crust is basaltic in origin, meaning it is lower in silica and higher in heavier elements like iron and magnesium and is classified as a mafic igneous rock. Oceanic crust is therefore more dense than continental crust.


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 oceanic crust and continental crust different?

Oceanic crust is denser and thinner than continental crust. Oceanic crust is primarily made up of basalt rock, while continental crust is composed of lighter granite rock. Additionally, oceanic crust is constantly being created and destroyed through seafloor spreading and subduction processes, whereas continental crust is relatively stable.


What is the difference of seafloor spreading and continental drift?

In continental drift it says that they were drifted apart by the spin of the earth and in seafloor spreading the earths crust is drifted apart by the ridges in the mid-ocean.

Related Questions

What is the primary force that cause the seafloor to spread and continental to drift?

The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. This process is driven by the movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which generates forces that push apart tectonic plates, leading to seafloor spreading and continental drift.


Which seafloor feature is not found on active continental margins?

continental rise


What seafloor feature is not found on active continental margins?

continental rise


Seafloor spreading begins when?

Seafloor spreading is triggered by a rift in a continental land mass.


Which boundry does a rift valley forrm at?

divergant boundries. new rock is formed and pushes the older seafloor outward towards the continental crust.


Places where the seafloor is forced under continental plates?

The region where the seafloor is forced beneath the continental plate is called a subduction zone. When the seafloor descends down it produces a deep-ocean trench.


What material makes the seafloor?

Away from the continental slopes, the ocean floor crust is basalt. That is generally covered by silt, though there are areas of bare rock


What will happen if a seafloor plate collides with a continental plate?

When a seafloor plate collides with a continental plate, the denser seafloor plate will typically be subducted beneath the continental plate. This process can create deep ocean trenches, volcanic arcs, and earthquakes. It may also lead to the formation of mountain ranges on the continental plate.


What does seafloor spreading have to do with the theory of continental drift?

Seafloor Spreading helped move the Continents to their current location.


How does the rock under the continents differ from rock under the oceans?

The rock of the continental crust is mostly granitic in composition, meaning it is a high silicate intrusive igneous rock. The rock of the oceanic crust is basaltic in origin, meaning it is lower in silica and higher in heavier elements like iron and magnesium and is classified as a mafic igneous rock. Oceanic crust is therefore more dense than continental crust.


Where the seafloor is forced under continental plates?

the subduction zone


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.