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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.

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Nannie Keeling

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How does the age of the oldest continental crust compare to the age of the oldest ocean crust?

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.


Which type of crust is primarily made of basalt and is more dense?

Oceanic crust is primarily made of basalt and is more dense than continental crust. It is also younger and thinner compared to continental crust.


What are the Differences in height between continental crust and oceanic crust?

Continental crust is generally thicker and more buoyant than oceanic crust, with an average thickness of around 30-50 km compared to about 5-10 km for oceanic crust. This means that continental crust stands higher above sea level compared to oceanic crust, which lies lower below sea level.


Both continental crust and oceanic crust consist mainly of what elements?

Both continental crust and oceanic crust consist mainly of silicon and oxygen, forming silica-based minerals. However, oceanic crust tends to have higher concentrations of iron and magnesium compared to continental crust.


Why does the oceanic crust sit lower in the mantle than the continental crust?

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust due to its composition and age, causing it to sink lower into the mantle. The oceanic crust is also thinner and has been subjected to more intense heat and pressure, which contributes to its lower position in the mantle compared to the thicker, lighter continental crust.

Related Questions

Why is the oldest oceanic crust is considerably than the oldest continental rock?

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.


Compared to Earth's continental crust Earth's oceanic crust is?

thinner and denser


What material is oceanic crust rich in?

Iron and magnesium, when compared to continental crust.


How does the age of the oldest continental crust compare to the age of the oldest ocean crust?

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.


Which type of crust is primarily made of basalt and is more dense?

Oceanic crust is primarily made of basalt and is more dense than continental crust. It is also younger and thinner compared to continental crust.


What are the Differences in height between continental crust and oceanic crust?

Continental crust is generally thicker and more buoyant than oceanic crust, with an average thickness of around 30-50 km compared to about 5-10 km for oceanic crust. This means that continental crust stands higher above sea level compared to oceanic crust, which lies lower below sea level.


What is the composition of continental crust?

The composition of the continental crust is granitic overall, high in silicon and aluminum, when compared to the oceanic crust.


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

1. The Oceanic crust is dense while the Continental crust is relatively lighter. 2. The Oceanic crust consists of Silicon and Magnessium, while the Continental crust has Silicon and Alluminium. 3. The Oceanic crust is thin, while the Continental crust is thick. 4. The Oceanic crust makes up the ocean floor, while the Continental crust carries the continents.


How does the age of the continental crust compare to The age of the oldest oceanic crust?

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.


Both continental crust and oceanic crust consist mainly of what elements?

Both continental crust and oceanic crust consist mainly of silicon and oxygen, forming silica-based minerals. However, oceanic crust tends to have higher concentrations of iron and magnesium compared to continental crust.


Why does the oceanic crust sit lower in the mantle than the continental crust?

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust due to its composition and age, causing it to sink lower into the mantle. The oceanic crust is also thinner and has been subjected to more intense heat and pressure, which contributes to its lower position in the mantle compared to the thicker, lighter continental crust.


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.