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  2. Continental crust - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_crust

    The average density of the continental crust is about, 2.83 g/cm 3 (0.102 lb/cu in), [6] less dense than the ultramafic material that makes up the mantle, which has a density of around 3.3 g/cm 3 (0.12 lb/cu in). Continental crust is also less dense than oceanic crust, whose density is about 2.9 g/cm 3 (0.10 lb/cu in). At 25 to 70 km (16 to 43 ...

  3. Oceanic crust - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_crust

    Continental and oceanic crust on the Earth's upper mantle. Oceanic crust is the uppermost layer of the oceanic portion of the tectonic plates. It is composed of the upper oceanic crust, with pillow lavas and a dike complex, and the lower oceanic crust, composed of troctolite, gabbro and ultramafic cumulates.

  4. List of tectonic plates - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tectonic_plates

    Continental crust – Layer of rock that forms the continents and continental shelves; Oceanic crust – Uppermost layer of the oceanic portion of a tectonic plate; Earth's mantle – A layer of silicate rock between Earth's crust and its outer core

  5. Earth's crust - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth's_crust

    The estimated average density of the continental crust is 2.835 g/cm 3, with density increasing with depth from an average of 2.66 g/cm 3 in the uppermost crust to 3.1 g/cm 3 at the base of the crust. [13] In contrast to the continental crust, the oceanic crust is composed predominantly of pillow lava and sheeted dikes with the composition of ...

  6. Lithosphere - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithosphere

    Oceanic lithosphere is associated with oceanic crust (having a mean density of about 2.9 grams per cubic centimetre or 0.10 pounds per cubic inch) and exists in the ocean basins. Continental lithosphere is associated with continental crust (having a mean density of about 2.7 grams per cubic centimetre or 0.098 pounds per cubic inch) and ...

  7. Continental collision - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_collision

    The continental crust on the downgoing plate is deeply subducted as part of the downgoing plate during collision, defined as buoyant crust entering a subduction zone. An unknown proportion of subducted continental crust returns to the surface as ultra-high pressure (UHP) metamorphic terranes, which contain metamorphic coesite and/or diamond plus or minus unusual silicon-rich garnets and/or ...

  8. Earth's crustal evolution - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth's_crustal_evolution

    Surface map of oceanic crust showing the generation of younger (red) crust and eventual destruction of older (blue) crust. This demonstrates the crustal spatial evolution at the Earth's surface dictated by plate tectonics. Earth's crustal evolution involves the formation, destruction and renewal of the rocky outer shell at that planet's surface.

  9. Crust (geology) - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crust_(geology)

    The internal structure of Earth. In geology, the crust is the outermost solid shell of a planet, dwarf planet, or natural satellite.It is usually distinguished from the underlying mantle by its chemical makeup; however, in the case of icy satellites, it may be defined based on its phase (solid crust vs. liquid mantle).