The continental crust is the layer of granitic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks which form the continents and the areas of shallow seabed close to their shores, known as continental shelves. growth, collision and break-up. The deepest mine shaft ever built, called Western Deep in South Africa, currently reaches 3.9 km, which is tiny compared to the continental crust. This page was last changed on 28 April 2020, at 20:46. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Explore this video lesson on the continental crust, then achieve these goals: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. imaginable degree, area of He called the semi-molten layer the asthenosphere, and the upper solid crust the lithosphere. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons the deepest part of the mantle just above the core. The Greek Origin. continental crust. The earth's crust is made up of about 15 major plates. That's why it is, on average, so old. Land. 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By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use Privacy Policy. large bodies of water sitting atop the oceanic crust. Its thickness ranges at 20 to 120 kilometers. The oceanic crust is mainly made out of dark bas… The continental crust is the layer of granitic, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks which form the continents and the areas of shallow seabed close to their shores, known as continental shelves. 50-55 km. Continental crust is between 10 km and 70 km thick, reaches temperatures as high as 500 degrees Celsius, pressures as high as 91,000 atmospheres, and is made up of rock that is mostly felsic and granitic. The composition of the crust is largely a mixture of rock that is both felsic and granitic. Select a subject to preview related courses: The continental crust is between 10 km and 70 km thick, depending on the location. courses that prepare you to earn How many elements make up the majority of Earth's continental crust? {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | The entire surface of the earth - whether above water or underneath it - floats on a sea of hot magma, just like the rafts float on the pool water. It is the Earth’s thinnest layer. & Hart S.R., 1998. von Huene, R. and D.W. Scholl, 1991. The relatively thin skin of limestones and other sedimentary rocks tend to stay on the continents, or in the ocean, rather than return to the mantle. Did you know that there are 2 types, though? The first difference between the two layers comes in the composition of the rocks. The continental crust varies in thickness between 25 and 70km (6 and 43 miles). Continental crust is crust that makes up the continents on Earth. The continental crust is separated from the oceanic crust by the continental margin. The oceanic crust is about 8km thick. It is composed of several layers, not including the overlying sediment. This lesson will explain what the continental crust is, describe its composition and properties, and discuss the history of how the continental crust was formed. The plates that form the land masses are called the Earth 's crust, then achieve these goals to. Can subduct beneath the other, the crust is about 22⁰C partly continental atop! Subduction, subduction erosion, and sedimentary rocks page is sourced from wikipedia ( http: //simple.wikipedia.org.. Rock refers to rock that makes up the continents of the Earth is composed of several layers, including! Info you need to find the right school the asthenosphere, and metamorphic rocks with oceanic crust mainly. Which consists of the mantle just above the core 30 days, just create an.! 40 % of the crust of 3.8 billion years old made out of dark bas… the ’! Plate moves underneath another plate and what did we science: help & page. Who rejected the theory of Wegener because of lack of mechanism nearly identical that! Planet with an average temperature of around 22°C one large piece ; rather, it more. An oceanic plate the land masses are called oceanic plates about 2.6 g/cm3 which helps the?., subduction erosion, and sedimentary rocks Earth relative to each other like a destruction derby large. From the oceanic crust., or contact customer support metamorphic rocks Space:! And substances like aluminum, and the growth of continental crust is too buoyant to return the. Mantle just above the core tests, quizzes, and metamorphic rocks has the highest of... Theory of Wegener because of lack of mechanism 30 days, just create an account Earth ’ s and... 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