What is oceanic plate and continental plate?

Oceanic plates are mafic in nature, composed of basalt rock and its coarse-grained equivalent, gabbro, both rich in iron, magnesium and calcium. In contrast, continental plates are felsic in nature, dominated by granitic rock with its abundant silica, aluminum, sodium and potassium.

What is the oceanic plate made of?

Oceanic Crust Oceanic crust, extending 5-10 kilometers (3-6 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor, is mostly composed of different types of basalts. Geologists often refer to the rocks of the oceanic crust as “sima.” Sima stands for silicate and magnesium, the most abundant minerals in oceanic crust.

What are the differences between oceanic and continental plates?

Continental plates are much thicker that Oceanic plates. At the convergent boundaries the continental plates are pushed upward and gain thickness. The rocks and geological layers are much older on continental plates than in the oceanic plates. The Continental plates are much less dense than the Oceanic plates.

What are the oceanic plates of the world?

There are seven major plates: African, Antarctic, Eurasian, Indo-Australian, North American, Pacific and South American. The Hawaiian Islands were created by the Pacific Plate, which is the world’s largest plate at 39,768,522 square miles.

What plates are continental?

A continental plate is exemplified by the North American Plate, which includes North America as well as the oceanic crust between it and a portion of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The latter is an enormous submarine mountain chain that extends down the axis of the Atlantic basin,…

Why is oceanic plate denser?

Oceanic & Continental Plates The oceanic plate is denser and sinks due to its lower buoyancy. It’s sucked into the asthenosphere and is melted deeper into the Earth, called a subduction zone. The continental plate is less dense and floats over the top of it since it is more buoyant.

How thick are oceanic plates?

Oceanic crust formed at spreading ridges is relatively homogeneous in thickness and composition compared to continental 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 type of rock are oceanic plates made of?

basaltic rocks
The answer lies in the composition of the rocks. Continental crust is composed of granitic rocks which are made up of relatively lightweight minerals such as quartz and feldspar. By contrast, oceanic crust is composed of basaltic rocks, which are much denser and heavier.

What are the characteristics of oceanic crust?

Oceanic crust is thinner and more dense than continental crust. This is because it has been compressed by the weight of the oceans it carries above it. It is also much younger than Continental crust, as it is usually less than 200 million years old.

What is formed when the oceanic plate collide?

A subduction zone is also generated when two oceanic plates collide — the older plate is forced under the younger one — and it leads to the formation of chains of volcanic islands known as island arcs.

What is the oceanic crust?

oceanic crust, the outermost layer of Earth’s lithosphere that is found under the oceans and formed at spreading centres on oceanic ridges, which occur at divergent plate boundaries. Oceanic crust is about 6 km (4 miles) thick. It is composed of several layers, not including the overlying sediment.

Where is the oceanic plate located?

Oceanic plates are plates that are located beneath the ocean. 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.