Activity: Crust
Difference between Continental and Oceanic Crust
Basis Of
Comparison
Description
Content
Thickness
Density
Age
Oceanic Crust
Continental Crust
The oceanic crust is the component
of the earth’s crust that makes up the
ocean basins.
The continental crust is that part of the crust
that makes up the earth’s surface. In fact,
about 45% of the surface of earth is made
up of this layer.
The oceanic crust is mainly made out
of dark basalt rocks that are rich in
minerals and substances like silicon,
calcium and magnesium.
The continental crust is made up of lightcolored granite rocks full of substances like
oxygen, aluminum, sodium, potassium and
silicon.
Oceanic crust is found under oceans
and it is about 4 miles thick in most
places.
Continental crust varies between six and 47
miles in thickness depending on where it is
found.
Oceanic crust has a higher density
than the continental crust. Oceanic
crust has a density of about 3.0
g/cm3. .
Continental crust has a lower density when
compared to the oceanic crust. The
continental crust has a density of about 2.6
g/cm3.
The oceanic crust is younger than the
continental crust. The oldest oceanic
rocks are less than 200 million years
old.
The continental crust is older than the
oceanic crust. Much of the continental crust
exceeds 1 billion years in age, and its oldest
rocks may be as old as 4 billion years.