Basalt is the dark heavy volcanic rock that makes up most of the world s oceanic crust.
Are the continents composed mostly of granitic rock or basaltic.
The crust is composed of two basic rock types granite and basalt.
While the ocean basins are composed of mostly basaltic rocks with an average density of 3 0g cm 3.
They are composed of mostly granitic rocks with an average density of 2 7g cm 3.
Because of this the continents ride on the.
Compared to the familiar granite of the continents basalt ba salt is darker denser and finer grained.
The continental crust is composed mostly of granite.
Some of it erupts on land too but to a first approximation basalt is an oceanic rock.
All rocks of igneous origin consist of magma or molten earth that finds its way up to.
Earth contains three kinds of rocks namely igneous rocks sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks basalt and granite are two types of igneous rocks.
The oceanic crust consists of a volcanic lava rock called basalt.
Continental crust is typically 40 km 25 miles thick while oceanic crust is much thinner.
Why are continents made mostly of granitic rocks and ocean basins mostly of basaltic rocks.
Continental crust is broadly granitic in composition and with a density of about 2 7 grams per cubic cm is somewhat lighter than oceanic crust which is basaltic i e richer in iron and magnesium than granite in composition and has a density of about 2 9 to 3 grams per cubic cm.