GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -As stated, oceanic plates are denser than continental ones. This is because they are made of denser rocks. Oceanic plates are typically composed of basalt. Basalts are mafic igneous rocks, which means they have a silica (quartz) content of less than 20% and are created by the cooling of lava.

Detailed explanation-2: -Oceanic crust is generally composed of dark-colored rocks called basalt and gabbro. It is thinner and denser than continental crust, which is made of light-colored rocks called andesite and granite. The low density of continental crust causes it to “float” high atop the viscous mantle, forming dry land.

Detailed explanation-3: -The crust is made up of solid rock but these rocks are not the same all over the world. Magma Page 2 the densest type of crust (3.0 g/cm³) and is made up of a metamorphic rock called basalt. Continental crust makes up the continents and rests on top of oceanic crust.

Detailed explanation-4: -Earth’s crust is generally divided into older, thicker continental crust and younger, denser oceanic crust. The dynamic geology of Earth’s crust is informed by plate tectonics.

Detailed explanation-5: -The average density of oceanic crust is 3.0 g/cm3, while continental crust has an average of 2.7 g/cm3.