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Not usually, as the rock they are made of (mostly granite) is too light to sink into the mantle (mostly denser basalt). Small fragments of continental crust can get entrained in a subducting oceanic plate and be dragged down into the mantle as that plate subducts.

Where continental crust collides with oceanic crust, it always floats forcing the oceanic crust down and causing it to subduct.

Where continental crust collides with continental crust, both plates crumple and compress dramatically, being forced upward into unusually high mountains (e.g. the Himalayas) and downward into deep continental roots that support the weight of those mountains. Nothing subducts in this case.

But whole continental plates subducting does not happen, while much more oceanic plate area has been subducted in the history of the earth than the total surface area of the earth.

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Which type of lithosphere are colliding at this boundary?

At a convergent boundary, typically an oceanic lithosphere collides with either another oceanic lithosphere or continental lithosphere. When an oceanic plate meets a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate, leading to the formation of deep ocean trenches and volcanic arcs. If two oceanic plates collide, one may subduct beneath the other, resulting in the creation of island arcs.


What plate is denser than the underlying asthenosphere?

The oceanic lithosphere is denser than the underlying asthenosphere. This density is primarily due to the composition of the oceanic crust, which is mainly basaltic, and the oceanic lithosphere as a whole is denser than the more buoyant continental lithosphere. The greater density of the oceanic plate contributes to its ability to subduct beneath continental plates at convergent boundaries.


Why does oceanic lithosphere sub duct while continental lithosphere does not?

Oceanic lithosphere is dense enough to be forced down into the mantle. Continental lithosphere is not.


When continental crust and oceanic crust collide which one will subduct?

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, so when they collide, the oceanic crust will subduct beneath the continental crust. This subduction process can lead to the formation of volcanic arcs and mountain ranges.


Name the two types of lithospheric plates?

There are two types of lithosphere: the oceanic lithosphere and the continental lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere exists in the ocean basins while the continental lithosphere exists in the continental crust.

Related Questions

Do continental plate material subduct?

no they do not.


Which type of lithosphere are colliding at this boundary?

At a convergent boundary, typically an oceanic lithosphere collides with either another oceanic lithosphere or continental lithosphere. When an oceanic plate meets a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate, leading to the formation of deep ocean trenches and volcanic arcs. If two oceanic plates collide, one may subduct beneath the other, resulting in the creation of island arcs.


How is continental lithosphere different from oceanic lithosphere?

Continental plates are thicker and less dense. Continental plates are mainly granitic in composition. Oceanic plates are mainly basaltic in composition. The rock of continental plates is on average, much older than the rock of the oceanic plates. The oceanic plate underlies the oceans, and the continental plate makes up the land masses. Continental plates do not subduct at convergent plate boundaries.


Why does oceanic lithosphere sub duct while continental lithosphere does not?

Oceanic lithosphere is dense enough to be forced down into the mantle. Continental lithosphere is not.


When continental crust and oceanic crust collide which one will subduct?

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, so when they collide, the oceanic crust will subduct beneath the continental crust. This subduction process can lead to the formation of volcanic arcs and mountain ranges.


Why is oceanic lithosphere subducted while continental lithosphere is not?

The density of the continental (granitic) lithosphere is lower than oceanic (basaltic) lithosphere. Consequently, due to buoyancy, the continental crust rides above the oceanic lithosphere and thus is not subducted. However, it is thought that pieces of the continental lithosphere break off and are subducted along with the oceanic lithosphere.


Does continental lithosphere contain more mafic rocks than oceanic lithosphere?

No, oceanic lithosphere contains more mafic rocks compared to continental lithosphere. Oceanic lithosphere is mainly composed of basalt, which is a mafic rock, whereas continental lithosphere is composed of a variety of rock types, including granitic rocks which are more felsic in composition.


Why does oceanic lithosphere sinks beneath continental lithosphere at convergent boundaries?

As odd as it is to think of things this way, continental lithosphere is more buoyant than oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is more dense.


Why does oceanic lithosphere sink beneath continental lithosphere at convergent boundary's?

As odd as it is to think of things this way, continental lithosphere is more buoyant than oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is more dense.


How is continental lithosphere different oceanic lithosphere?

Continental lithosphere is thicker and less dense than oceanic lithosphere. Continental crust is primarily composed of granitic rock while oceanic crust is composed primarily of basaltic rock.


Name the two types of lithospheric plates?

There are two types of lithosphere: the oceanic lithosphere and the continental lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere exists in the ocean basins while the continental lithosphere exists in the continental crust.


Which would subduct if a continental and oceanic plate were to collide with each other?

The oceanic plate would subduct beneath the continental plate. This is because oceanic plates are denser than continental plates due to their composition, so they are more likely to be forced beneath the less dense continental plate.