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Science Earth Science PRINT UPGRADE-PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

The thickness and composition of oceanic crust. Introduction: Oceanic crust differs significantly from a continental crust. It is thinner and differs in its composition from the continental crust. They both differ in densities because of the different composition of rocks. Explanation: Oceanic crust has an average thickness of about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), and it is divided into three layers. The three layers of the oceanic crust are marine sediments, pillow basalt-sheeted dikes, and gabbro intrusions. Marine sediments overlay on basalt pillows and dikes, which are probably above the gabbro intrusions. The top layer has a thickness of 0.5 kilometers and mainly consists of terrigenous sediments. The middle layer which is of basalt has an average thickness of 1.5 kilometers. Pillow basalts are rounded masses of lava that are formed when the hot lava flows into the cold water, and sheeted dikes are the sheets of basalt. The lowest layer of the oceanic crust is about 5 kilometers thick and consists of sill-like gabbro bodies. Gabbro bodies are mainly igneous rocks.

The thickness and composition of oceanic crust. Introduction: Oceanic crust differs significantly from a continental crust. It is thinner and differs in its composition from the continental crust. They both differ in densities because of the different composition of rocks. Explanation: Oceanic crust has an average thickness of about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), and it is divided into three layers. The three layers of the oceanic crust are marine sediments, pillow basalt-sheeted dikes, and gabbro intrusions. Marine sediments overlay on basalt pillows and dikes, which are probably above the gabbro intrusions. The top layer has a thickness of 0.5 kilometers and mainly consists of terrigenous sediments. The middle layer which is of basalt has an average thickness of 1.5 kilometers. Pillow basalts are rounded masses of lava that are formed when the hot lava flows into the cold water, and sheeted dikes are the sheets of basalt. The lowest layer of the oceanic crust is about 5 kilometers thick and consists of sill-like gabbro bodies. Gabbro bodies are mainly igneous rocks.

Solution Summary: The author explains the thickness and composition of the oceanic crust.

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16th Edition

ISBN: 9781264118113

Author: Plummer

Publisher: MCGRAW-HILL HIGHER EDUCATION

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