Difference Between Continental & Oceanic Plates: by Doug Bennett Updated April 05, 2018

In the theory of tectonic plates, at a convergent boundary between a continental plate and
an oceanic plate, the denser plate usually subducts underneath the less dense plate. It is well
known that oceanic plates subduct under continental plates, and therefore oceanic
plates are more dense than continental plates.
Difference Between
Continental & Oceanic Plates
By Doug Bennett; Updated April 05, 2018
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Earth’s surface is divided into approximately a dozen rigid pieces, comprised of eight
major and several minor tectonic plates. These plates are one of two primary types:
oceanic plates or continental plates. While these two types of plates share a lot in
common, there are a number of key differences that differentiate the two and influence
the tectonic rhythms that help define our planet's fundamental geologic processes.
Differences in Formative Process

Oceanic plates are formed by divergent plate boundaries. These zones, located along
mid-ocean ridges, represent areas where upwelling magma creates new oceanic crust.
As lava flows from these volcanic ridges, it quickly cools, forming extrusive igneous
rock. Continental plates, meanwhile, are formed primarily by convergent plate
boundaries. These zones represent areas where oceanic plates collide with and plunge
underneath continental plates – a process called subduction. As oceanic plates
subduct, they melt to form magma. This magma cools over millions of years, producing
intrusive igneous rock and new continental crust.
Differences in Composition
Oceanic plates are mafic in nature, composed of basalt rock and its coarse-grained
equivalent, gabbro, both rich in iron, magnesium and calcium. In contrast, continental
plates are felsic in nature, dominated by granitic rock with its abundant silica, aluminum,
sodium and potassium. Metamorphic and sedimentary rocks also help build continental
crust, much more varied geologically than its oceanic counterpart.
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Differences in Density
Because of their heavy ferromagnesian elements, oceanic plates are much denser than
continental plates. The average density of ocean plates is approximately 200 pounds
per cubic foot, while continental crust ranges between about 162 and and 172 pounds
per cubic foot. This difference in relative density causes oceanic plates to subduct
beneath the more buoyant continental plates. This also allows the denser oceanic
plates to sink further into the fluid asthenosphere, causing them to lie below sea level. In
contrast, the more buoyant continental plates float higher, resulting in dry land.
Differences in Age
Oceanic and continental plates differ radically in age because of tectonic processes.
Divergent plate boundaries continually renew oceanic plates while the subduction zones
of convergent boundaries continually recycle them. As a result, the oldest oceanic rocks
are less than 200 million years old. In contrast, continental plates take a long time to
form but are rarely destroyed. Much of the continental crust exceeds 1 billion years in
age, and its oldest rocks may be as old as 4 billion years.
Differences in Range and Thickness

Oceanic plates cover approximately 71 percent of Earth’s surface, while continental
plates cover 29 percent. While oceanic plates cover far more area, they are much
thinner than continental crust. Despite their greater density, oceanic plates average only
about four or five miles in thickness, compared to an average of 25 miles for continental
plates; under major mountain belts, the continental crust can reach nearly 50 miles
thick. The combination of their respective area and average thickness means that there
is actually twice as much continental rock as oceanic rock.
The main differences are the thickness and nature of the crust in oceanic and continental plates.
Explanation:
oceanic plates are formed at divergent boundaries mainly at mid ocean ridges. The
material that is poured out are basaltic lave in nature. Basalt is denser and heavier than
the granite that makes up continental plates.
Oceanic plates are much thinner than the continental plates. When an oceanic plate
meets a continental plate at a convergent boundary the oceanic plate is forced under
the continental plate and destroyed. The convergent boundaries between ocean and
continental plates create subduction zones. The oceanic plate is pushed under the
continental plate and melted. This melted material becomes magma that may reach the
surface as volcanos, or solidify under the surface as granite.
Continental plates are much thicker that Oceanic plates. At the convergent boundaries
the continental plates are pushed upward and gain thickness. The rocks and geological
layers are much older on continental plates than in the oceanic plates. The Continental
plates are much less dense than the Oceanic plates. The Granite and recycled material
are much lighter than the heavy basalt layers of the ocean plates.

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In the theory of tectonic plates, at a convergent boundary between a continental plate and

Differences in Formative Process

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Differences in Range and Thickness

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