Continental crust is low in density whereas oceanic crust has a higher density . Continental crust is thicker, on the contrary, the oceanic crust is thinner. Continental crust floats on magma freely but oceanic crust floats on magma scarcely. Continental crust cannot recycle whereas oceanic crust can recycle it.
What are two differences between oceanic crust and continental crust quizlet?
The oceanic crust is thinner and denser , and is similar in composition to basalt (Si, O, Ca, Mg, and Fe). The continental crust is thicker and less dense, and is similar to granite in composition (Si, O, Al, K, and Na). The mantle is made of magnesium, iron and silicon. The core is almost exclusively iron and nickel.
What are the differences between oceanic and continental?
Oceanic crust is found under oceans, and it is about four miles thick in most places. ... Continental crust varies between six and 47 miles in thickness depending on where it is found. Continental crust tends to be much older than the oceanic kind , and rocks found on this kind of crust are often the oldest in the world.
What are 3 differences between continental crust and oceanic crust?
Continental crust is low in density whereas oceanic crust has a higher density . Continental crust is thicker, on the contrary, the oceanic crust is thinner. Continental crust floats on magma freely but oceanic crust floats on magma scarcely. Continental crust cannot recycle whereas oceanic crust can recycle it.
What are the similarities between continental and oceanic crust?
Oceanic and Continental crusts are alike because they both shift and move and grow . They differ by there rock types. Oceanic crust is made up of dense basalt while continental crust is made up of less dense granite.
Why is oceanic crust different from continental crust?
Oceanic crust differs from continental crust in several ways: it is thinner, denser, younger, and of different chemical composition . Like continental crust, however, oceanic crust is destroyed in subduction zones. The lavas are generally of two types: pillow lavas and sheet flows.
What are two physical differences between continental and oceanic crust?
Continental crust is typically 40 km (25 miles) thick, while oceanic crust is much thinner, averaging about 6 km (4 miles) in thickness. The effect of the different densities of lithospheric rock can be seen in the different average elevations of continental and oceanic crust.
What are the two types of crust?
Earth’s crust is divided into two types: oceanic crust and continental crust . The transition zone between these two types of crust is sometimes called the Conrad discontinuity. Silicates (mostly compounds made of silicon and oxygen) are the most abundant rocks and minerals in both oceanic and continental crust.
What is the thickness and composition of oceanic crust?
On average, oceanic crust is 6–7 km thick and basaltic in composition as compared to the continental crust which averages 35–40 km thick and has a roughly andesitic composition.
What is an example of continental crust?
The continental crust is the layer of granitic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks which form the continents and the areas of shallow seabed close to their shores, known as continental shelves. ... About 40% of the Earth’s surface is now underlain by continental crust.
Which two terms apply to oceanic crust rather than continental crust?
Oceanic crust differs from continental crust in several ways: it is thinner, denser, younger, and of different chemical composition . Like continental crust, however, oceanic crust is destroyed in subduction zones.
What is the difference between oceanic and continental lithosphere?
Oceanic lithosphere is typically about 50-100 km thick (but beneath the mid-ocean ridges is no thicker than the crust). The continental lithosphere is thicker (about 150 km). It consists of about 50 km of crust and 100 km or more of the uppermost mantle.
What is an example of oceanic crust?
An example of this is the Gakkel Ridge under the Arctic Ocean . Thicker than average crust is found above plumes as the mantle is hotter and hence it crosses the solidus and melts at a greater depth, creating more melt and a thicker crust. An example of this is Iceland which has crust of thickness ~20 km.
Is oceanic crust younger than continental crust?
Oceanic crust is not only thinner and denser than continental crust, and it is also much younger than it and has a different chemical composition.
Why is it important to distinguish the two types of crust?
Explanation: The thin oceanic crust is composed of primarily of basalt , and the thicker continental crust is composed primarily of granite. The low density of the thick continental crust allows it to “float” in high relief on the much higher density mantlebelow.
What are the 2 types of crust and how are they different?
Earth’s Crust
There are two different types of crust: thin oceanic crust that underlies the ocean basins, and thicker continental crust that underlies the continents . ... The thin oceanic crust is composed of primarily of basalt, and the thicker continental crust is composed primarily of granite.
