What is the difference between oceanic and continental plates

The outer core is the layer surrounding the inner core. It is a liquid layer, also made up of iron and nickel. The mantle is the thickest section of the Earth at approximately 2, kilometres. The upper part of the mantle is called the asthenosphere.

It is made up of semi-molten rock called magma. The crust is the surface of the Earth. It is a rock layer forming the upper part of the lithosphere. The oceanic crust is mainly made out of dark basalt rocks that are rich in minerals and substances like silicon and magnesium. By contrast, the continental crust is made up of light-colored granite rocks full of substances like oxygen and silicon. The difference in composition between the mantle and the two layers of the crust is maintained by a process known as partial melting.

Consequently, the layer that is beneath the partially melted rock gains these new minerals and substances thus making that layer denser than the one above. Another difference comes in the density of the two layers. From the descriptions, it is clear that the oceanic crust has a higher density than the more buoyant continental crust since the latter floats on top of the former.

Getting into the technicalities, the continental crust has a density of around 3. In addition, the continental crust is much thicker than the oceanic crust. The continental crust is older than the oceanic crust. This fact can be easily explained by the recycling process of the oceanic crust. What is one example of a hotspot?

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