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Continental crust is thicker, averaging about 30-50 kilometers, and primarily composed of lighter, granitic rocks, making it less dense than oceanic crust. Oceanic crust, on the other hand, is thinner, around 5-10 kilometers thick, and composed mainly of denser basaltic rocks. Additionally, continental crust is older and more stable, while oceanic crust is continuously created and destroyed at mid-ocean ridges and subduction zones. This fundamental difference contributes to various geological features and processes on Earth.

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Continental crust and the difference between oceanic 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.


What is one major difference between oceanic crust and continental crust?

One major difference between oceanic crust and continental crust is their composition and density. Oceanic crust is primarily composed of basalt and is denser and thinner, averaging about 7 kilometers in thickness. In contrast, continental crust is mainly composed of lighter granitic rocks and is thicker, averaging around 30-50 kilometers. This difference in density contributes to the distinct characteristics of oceanic and continental tectonic plates.


Is the continental crust more than 5 times as thick as ocenic crust?

Oceanic crust is 6 to 11 kilometers thick while the continental crust is 100 kilometers thick, so the continental crust is more than five times as thick as the oceanic crust. I hope this well will help for the future and current time.


What is the difference between the thickness of the continetal crust and oceanic crust?

In technical terms, the oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust so when the continental crust and the oceanic crust meet the continental crust will sink under and the oceanic crust will slide over and a volcano will be formed as well as producing earthquakes in the process.


Which portion of the continental margin serves as a boundary between the oceanic crust and continental crust?

continental slope

Related Questions

What are layers of Earth's?

Starting from the inside is the inner core, outer core, lower mantle, upper mantle, the crust(ocenic and continental) and the lithosphere.


What accounts for the difference between the oceanic crust and continental crust?

The oceanic crust is made up of basalt while continental crust is made up of mostly granite.


What are two difference between the continental crust and the oceanic?

Two differences are that the oceanic crust is more dense than continental, and continental crust is composed mostly of granite, while oceanic is mostly basalt


Continental crust and the difference between oceanic 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.


What is one major difference between oceanic crust and continental crust?

One major difference between oceanic crust and continental crust is their composition and density. Oceanic crust is primarily composed of basalt and is denser and thinner, averaging about 7 kilometers in thickness. In contrast, continental crust is mainly composed of lighter granitic rocks and is thicker, averaging around 30-50 kilometers. This difference in density contributes to the distinct characteristics of oceanic and continental tectonic plates.


What and the difference between oceanic and continental?

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.


Is the continental crust more than 5 times as thick as ocenic crust?

Oceanic crust is 6 to 11 kilometers thick while the continental crust is 100 kilometers thick, so the continental crust is more than five times as thick as the oceanic crust. I hope this well will help for the future and current time.


What is the difference between continental shelf and slope?

The continental shelf is a flattish area which extends from the shore out into the ocean and is made of continental crust. This ends in a slope (the continental slope) which descends to the abyssal plane, which is made of oceanic crust.


What is the difference between the thickness of the continetal crust and oceanic crust?

In technical terms, the oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust so when the continental crust and the oceanic crust meet the continental crust will sink under and the oceanic crust will slide over and a volcano will be formed as well as producing earthquakes in the process.


What is the difference between the continental crust and the oceanic crusts?

Most significantly, there is a material difference in the weight and density of the two types of crust. This manifests itself when tectonic movement brings oceanic in continental plates into collision. Oceanic crust is relatively denser but typically about 100km this. Continental crust is lighter but almost twice as thick--about 200km.


What is the boundary between the oceanic crust and the continental crust known as?

The boundary between the oceanic crust and continental crust is known as the continental shelf. This is the shallowest part of the ocean that extends from the shore to the continental slope.


Which portion of the continental margin serves as a boundary between the oceanic crust and the continental crust?

The portion of the continental margin that serves as a boundary between the oceanic crust and the continental crust is called the continental shelf. This is the shallowest part of the margin, located between the shoreline and the continental slope.