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Usually when it meets another tectonic plate at a convergent plate boundary. If the oceanic plate converges with a continental plate the denser oceanic plate will be forced under the continental plate.
If it converges with another oceanic plate the older (and therefore cooler and denser) plate will be forced under the younger plate.
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Why does the oceanic crust sit lower in the mantle than the continental crust?
Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust.
Why does the continental crust float higher on the mantle than on the oceanic crust?
the oceanic crust is more dense therefore it sinks lower than continental crust
Why is oceanic crust always subducted underneath the continental crust?
Oceanic crust subducts under continental crust because it is denser. Continental crust's density is too low for it to be forced into the mantle.
How do continental crust differ from oceanic?
Continental crust is predominantly composed mostly of rock of a granitic composition, higher in silica and aluminum, with layers of sedimentary rock above. Oceanic crust is predominantly basaltic (higher in iron and magnesium), darker, thinner, more dense, and formed from rapid cooling of lava.
What are 3 major parts of the lithosphere?
The continental crust, the oceanic crust, and the uppermost brittle mantle.
What is oceanic-oceanic subduction?
Oceanic crust sinking under a plate with continental crust
What is oceanic lithosphere?
The lithosphere is composed of crust and hard upper mantle. The oceanic lithosphere would be hard upper mantle and basaltic oceanic crust.
What is the oceanic lithosphere?
The lithosphere is composed of crust and hard upper mantle. The oceanic lithosphere would be hard upper mantle and basaltic oceanic crust.
What kind of crust usually goes into the mantle?
Oceanic crust gets subducted into the mantle.
What is the source material in basaltic magma?
Oceanic crust and oceanic sediments.
Does the continental or the oceanic crust extend farther into the mantle?
The continental crust because it is thicker than the oceanic crust
What happens to mantle rock descending oceanic crust scrapes past continental crust?
The mantle rock descending from the oceanic crust causes the water in oceanic crust to be released. This lowers the melting point of the rock and causes it to melt.
Why does the oceanic crust sit lower in the mantle than the continental crust?
Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust.
What happens to old oceanic crust as new molten material from the mantle?
The older oceanic crust moves away from the spreading center and is eventualy subducted back into the mantle.
What happens to old oceanic crust as molten materials rises from the mantle?
The older oceanic crust moves away from the spreading center and is eventualy subducted back into the mantle.
What happens when a plate of oceanic crust collides with a plate of Continetal crust why?
the oceanic crust slides down and burns in the mantle and forms a volcano
Why does the continental crust float higher on the mantle than on the oceanic crust?
the oceanic crust is more dense therefore it sinks lower than continental crust
