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The oceanic and continental plates make up the lithosphere, which is the outermost layer of the Earth. The lithosphere consists of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle, and it is divided into tectonic plates that float on the more fluid asthenosphere beneath. Oceanic plates are primarily composed of basalt, while continental plates are mainly composed of granite.

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What layer of Earth makes up the plates and what layer causes them to move?

The plates are made up of the Earth's lithosphere, which is the outermost layer of the Earth. The movement of these plates is caused by the flow of the semi-fluid asthenosphere layer beneath the lithosphere.


Which layer of the earth contains the tectonic plates?

The plates are part of the crust, the upper layer of the Earth. The plates are moved by currents in the upper mantle. The plates and flexible upper mantle are referred to collectively as the lithosphere and sit atop the mantle layer called the aesthenosphere.


What block of rocks that comprise the crust?

The block of rocks that comprise the Earth's crust are known as tectonic plates. These plates are sections of the lithosphere, which is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, and they include both continental and oceanic crust. Tectonic plates are constantly moving and interacting at their boundaries, leading to geological activity such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building.


What is meant by continental crust and oceanic crust?

They are two different types of crust. Continental crust is heavier than Oceanic crust, so when the two collide, the Continental crust 'subducts' under the Oceanic Crust. 'Crust' referring to the tectonic plates, the surface of the Earth we stand on.


What is the largest layer of earths surface?

The largest layer of Earth's surface is the crust, which is divided into oceanic and continental crust. The continental crust is thicker and less dense than the oceanic crust, covering about 40% of the Earth's surface.

Related Questions

What layer of the earth makes the oceanic and continental plates?

friction of the gravity


What layer of Earth makes up the plates and what layer causes them to move?

The plates are made up of the Earth's lithosphere, which is the outermost layer of the Earth. The movement of these plates is caused by the flow of the semi-fluid asthenosphere layer beneath the lithosphere.


What is layer has the oceanic and continental plates?

The crust.


What is the oceanic layer of Earth made of?

oceanic crust


What is the upper layer of the Earth including the crust?

The layer of the Earth which forms the tectonic plates is composed of the crust and uppermost mantle and is called the lithosphere.


Which layer are the plates in?

the plates are apart of the crust,the upper layer of the earth


What layer of the earth has plates?

The lithosphere has plates.


What kinds of tectonic plates are there?

There are two kinds of plates- continental lithosphere and oceanic lithosphere. There are many types of plate boundaries, like convergent, divergent, transform, and more. Continental lithosphere is granite and oceanic is basalt.


What is the layer of the earth called?

I believe this would be the oceanic crust


What layer of earth forms the continents?

the crust. the layer below that is the layer of molten lava called the mantle. the continental plates move and float on this. this is known as continental drift


What layer of earth makes up the plates?

the crust + lithosphere earth's crust: crust crust continental crust lithosphere crust continental and oceanic crust mantle asthenosphere mantle lower mantle mantle outer core outer core inner core inner core


What is the outer layer of the earth?

The outer layer of the Earth is called the crust. It is a solid, rocky shell that is broken up into several tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere below. The crust is divided into oceanic (thinner and denser) and continental (thicker and less dense) crust.