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Continental crust is far older than oceanic crust.

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Is the earth's crust older than the ocean crust?

Yes, the Earth's continental crust is generally older than the oceanic crust. Continental crust can be billions of years old, while oceanic crust is continuously being created and is typically less than 200 million years old.


What is the difference between contiental crust and oceanic crust?

Continental crust is on top of the oceanic crust Continental crust is made of granite whereas oceanic crust is made of basalt Continental crust is partly above sea level and partly below whereas oceanic crust is always below sea level.


How much older are the oceanic rocks than the continental rocks?

Oceanic rocks are generally younger than continental rocks, with oceanic crust averaging about 200 million years old and continental crust averaging about 2.5 billion years old. This is due to the process of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is constantly being formed and pushing older crust away.


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

The oldest continental crust is significantly older than the oldest oceanic crust. The oldest continental rocks, found in regions like Canada and Australia, are over 4 billion years old. In contrast, the oldest oceanic crust, located at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, is only about 200 million years old, as it is continuously created and destroyed through the process of plate tectonics. This stark difference highlights the stability and longevity of continental crust compared to the dynamic nature of oceanic crust.


What is the age of the continental crust?

The age of the continental crust varies, but on average it is around 2.5 billion years old. This means that most of the continental crust is significantly older than the oceanic crust, which is constantly being recycled through processes like subduction.

Related Questions

Is the earth's crust older than the ocean crust?

Yes, the Earth's continental crust is generally older than the oceanic crust. Continental crust can be billions of years old, while oceanic crust is continuously being created and is typically less than 200 million years old.


What is the difference between contiental crust and oceanic crust?

Continental crust is on top of the oceanic crust Continental crust is made of granite whereas oceanic crust is made of basalt Continental crust is partly above sea level and partly below whereas oceanic crust is always below sea level.


How much older are the oceanic rocks than the continental rocks?

Oceanic rocks are generally younger than continental rocks, with oceanic crust averaging about 200 million years old and continental crust averaging about 2.5 billion years old. This is due to the process of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is constantly being formed and pushing older crust away.


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.


How does the age of the oldest continental crust compared 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.


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.


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

The oldest continental crust is significantly older than the oldest oceanic crust. The oldest continental rocks, found in regions like Canada and Australia, are over 4 billion years old. In contrast, the oldest oceanic crust, located at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, is only about 200 million years old, as it is continuously created and destroyed through the process of plate tectonics. This stark difference highlights the stability and longevity of continental crust compared to the dynamic nature of oceanic crust.


Is the oceanic crust older then the continental crust?

Well, the earth was built all by itself or more preferably god made it but, the oceanic crust and the continental crust are both aged the same. Whenever this earth was created like 40,000 or billion years ago. It's really quite simple to figure it out by yourself.


What is the age of the continental crust?

The age of the continental crust varies, but on average it is around 2.5 billion years old. This means that most of the continental crust is significantly older than the oceanic crust, which is constantly being recycled through processes like subduction.


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.


How do the two types of crust vary?

Their main differences are in thickness, composition, density and age.Oceanic crust is thinner (5-10 km thick) than continental crust (20-70 km thick).Oceanic crust is composed of minerals that have higher concentrations of iron and magnesium (Mafic minerals) than those of the continental crust (which is richer in aluminum and silica - Felsic minerals).The rocks that make up the oceanic crust are typically more dense (3300 kg/m3) than those that make up the continental crust (2700 kg/m3).Oceanic crust is as a rule much younger than continental crust; the oldest oceanic crust is rarely over 200 million years in age, whereas the continental crust can exceed 3 billion years in age.


Why is the oldest rock on planet earth found on continental plates not oceanic plates?

Oceanic crust is constantly being recycled. New oceanic crust is formed at mid ocean ridges while old ocean crust is destroyed at subduction zones. As a result there is little oceanic crust that is older than 200 million years. Continental crust does not get destroyed by subduction, so much of it has been around since the Precambrian time.