What is the continental crust?
Q: What is the continental crust?
A: 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.
Q: What is the composition of the continental crust?
A: The continental crust consists mostly of feldspar and other sialic rocks.
Q: How does the density of continental crust compare to the Earth's mantle?
A: The continental crust is less dense than the material of the Earth's mantle, which consists of mafic rock.
Q: How does the thickness of continental crust compare to oceanic crust?
A: The continental crust is considerably thicker than oceanic crust, mostly 35 to 40 km versus the average oceanic thickness of around 7-10 km.
Q: What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by continental crust?
A: About 40% of the Earth's surface lies on-top of continental crust.
Q: What separates the continental crust from the oceanic crust?
A: The continental crust is separated from the oceanic crust by the continental margin.
Q: What are some types of rocks that make up the continental crust?
A: The continental crust is mainly composed of granitic, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, including feldspar and other sialic rocks.
