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Continents are made of continental lithosphere. Continents are composed of rocks that are more buoyant their than denser oceanic counterparts. These lighter rocks float on top of the asthenosphere, which is denser. This balance is maintained due to the fact that lighter substances will raise and rest on heavier substances, such as the asthenophere

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βˆ™ 15y ago
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βˆ™ 8y ago

Continental crust does not subduct because it is less dense than oceanic crust so it rides higher up on the mantle than the oceanic crust. So the oceanic crust which rides lower on the mantle due to isostacy sinks or subducts under the continental crust. thanks for listening or reading lol

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Q: Why don't continents go down subduction zones?
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Why do continents not go down subduction zones?

Partly because continental crust is less dense and more buoyant than oceanic crust, so it won't sink down subduction zones, and partly because it's much thicker than oceanic crust and buckles in plate collisions rather than subducts.


Ocean plates are pushed down into the upper mantle in what?

Subduction Zones.


Oceanic plates are pushed down into the upper mantle in?

subduction zones


What are the oceanic plates pushed down in the upper mantle in?

Subduction Zones.


What are oceanic plates pushed down in the upper mantle in?

Subduction Zones.


What is a subduction zon as it relates to earth science?

A subduction zone is a place at the margin of a continent where the neighbouring oceanic plate is 'subducted'. That is, the oceanic plate, moving toward the continental plate, goes down into the mantle because it is heavier than the continental plate. Subduction zones typically cause deep ocean trenches.


Aera where an oceanic plate goes down into the mantle?

A subduction zone at a convergent plate boundary. Undersea trenches are formed where the oceanic plate subducts, and volcanism and earthquakes may result from the partial melting and downward movement of the subducting crust.


Why are large powerful earthquakes generated at subduction zones?

Subduction zones are locations where crustal plates are being forced down into the mantle below other crustal plates. These movements are not uniform, but instead occur in discrete events. This is because friction causes the plates to lock in position until the stress exceeds the shear strength of the fault zone. This accumulation of stress causes deformations in the rock mass around the locked fault which is suddenly released when the fault slips.


Does a subduction occur in a convergent boundary?

Subduction is when one of the plates is forced down beneath the other plate at the convergent boundary.


What process is evident at oceanic trenches?

subduction, which is when one tectonic plate is pushed down beneath another tectonic plate.


A region where oceanic plates sink down?

Subduction Zone


What is the of where the crust goes back down into the earth?

subduction zone