Because it's much less dense.
Continental crust is less dense and thicker than oceanic crust, causing it to float higher on the mantle. The continental crust is also compositionally different, with a greater amount of less dense materials like granite compared to the basaltic composition of oceanic crust. This difference in density and composition results in the continental crust floating higher on the mantle.
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust because it is primarily composed of basalt, which is a mafic rock with a higher density than the felsic rocks that make up continental crust. Additionally, oceanic crust is thinner and younger than continental crust, contributing to its higher density.
The density of oceanic crust is generally higher than continental crust due to its composition of mostly basaltic rock. This higher density causes oceanic crust to be thinner and denser, leading to its subduction beneath continental crust at convergent plate boundaries.
Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust. All that water weight compresses the heck out of the material in the plate and also the oceanic crust contains larger percentages of denser elements such as magnesium and iron than the continental crust which also contributes to it's higher density. This sets the conditions for what happens. The more dense oceanic crust will "dive under" continental crust because it is more dense, and all because of the difference in densities.
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.
Yes, continental crust is primarily composed of granitic rocks such as granite. This type of rock is less dense than the basaltic rocks found in oceanic crust, which contributes to the higher elevation of continental landmasses.
No, the oceanic crust is denser. That's why the land areas "float" so much higher than the ocean bedrock.
When an oceanic plate and a continental plate collide, the oceanic plate is always subducted. Oceanic plates are denser than continental plates, and they have a higher iron content. Since they are denser, oceanic plates always sink below the continental plate in the event of a collision.
Continental crust is thicker and less dense while oceanic crust is thinner and more dense, so essentially continental crust takes a higher position than oceanic crust. When oceanic and continental plates collide, oceanic plates slide underneath continental plates(if this makes what I said any clearer).
Continental crust is less dense and thicker than oceanic crust, causing it to float higher on the mantle. The continental crust is also compositionally different, with a greater amount of less dense materials like granite compared to the basaltic composition of oceanic crust. This difference in density and composition results in the continental crust floating higher on the mantle.
The continental crust is less dense and thicker than oceanic crust, allowing it to float higher on the asthenosphere. This is because the continental crust is composed of less dense rock types like granite, while the oceanic crust is made up of denser basalt. As a result, the less dense continental crust floats higher due to its lower density and greater thickness compared to oceanic crust.
Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust because it is thicker and composed of lighter materials, such as granite. This lower density allows continental crust to "float" higher on the more dense mantle beneath it, creating continents.
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust because it is primarily composed of basalt, which is a mafic rock with a higher density than the felsic rocks that make up continental crust. Additionally, oceanic crust is thinner and younger than continental crust, contributing to its higher density.
The density of oceanic crust is generally higher than continental crust due to its composition of mostly basaltic rock. This higher density causes oceanic crust to be thinner and denser, leading to its subduction beneath continental crust at convergent plate boundaries.
Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust. All that water weight compresses the heck out of the material in the plate and also the oceanic crust contains larger percentages of denser elements such as magnesium and iron than the continental crust which also contributes to it's higher density. This sets the conditions for what happens. The more dense oceanic crust will "dive under" continental crust because it is more dense, and all because of the difference in densities.
The oceanic crust is composed mainly of basalt, rich in iron and magnesium. The continental crust is composed mainly of granite, rich in aluminum. Although they are both rich in oxygen and silicon, the rocks that compose the oceanic crust are of higher density than the rocks that compose the continental crust.
Oceanic crust is mostly basaltic, which is denser, while continental crust is made from mostly basaltic and sedimentary rocks, which are less dense. This difference in density is why the oceanic crust sinks lower (thus the oceans) and the continental crust rides higher (thus the continents) on the mantle.