Is continental crust thinner than oceanic crust?

Continental crust is thicker than oceanic crust. The continental crust can be between six and forty-seven miles thick. This crust is older and the rocks found there are some of the oldest in the world. An example is the rocks that are in Quebec, Canada, which are about 4 billion years old.

The continental rocks are mainly granite rocks. Along with being thicker, the continental crust is also older than the oceanic crust and they are less dense. One thing the two crusts have in common is they are all made of different compositions. This is because of partial melting.

Different forms of crust make up the continental crust, and scientists have claimed that the continental crust is a little thicker than the oceanic crust. The continental crust is made up of silicate, aluminum, and it is composed of layers of basalt. This crust can rise above from the Earth’s atmosphere and form mountains, peaks, and ranges. The thickest layer of this crust is at the top of mountain ranges like the Himalayas.

Oceanic crust is found between layers of the ocean and beneath the ocean’s surface. Occasionally, the crust is forced upward above sea level — both types of crust form during the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates. The continental crust makes up all the Earth’s continents, and it is much thicker and less dense. There are three layers of the crust in both continental and oceanic crusts. The only significant difference besides the density is the layer at the very top of the crust.