Continental and Oceanic Crust

• Plates are divided into two classifications:

  • Oceanic Crust
  • Continental Crust
• The continental crust is the solid ground we stand and is created through volcanic eruptions; mainly igneous rocks and granite.
• The continental crust is divided into four subparts which are:

  1. Basement Rock
  2. Platform
  3. Craton
  4. Continental Margin
• Basement Rocks of a continental crust is said to be the "Oldest" foundation and is estimated to be 4 billion years old.
• The basement rock is made up of what type of rocks?

  Volcanic Rocks and Granite
• The Platform of a continental crust is made up of sedimentary rocks.
• What is it called when the basement rock and platform are connected?

  Craton
• The Continental margin of continental crust is the edge of the cratons and are also composed of sedimentary rocks.
• Oceanic crust are made up of what?

  Gabbro and Basalt.
• Oceanic Crust is denser than continental crust.
• The oceanic crust has an estimated age of?

  200 million years old.
• Oceanic crusts are 7 kilometer thick, whereas continental crusts are 10 - 70 kilometer thick.
• In what way do Oceanic Crust form?

  Magma from underwater volcanic Eruption
• The Oceanic crust is pushed beneath the Continental crust in geological events.