why is the ocean floor made out of basalt and the continent granite?

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why is the ocean floor made out of basalt and the continent granite?

2006-10-09 08:47:11 · 2 answers · asked by The word Fan! 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology

2 answers

Basalt is the byproduct of lava and magma hitting the ocean waters and cooling off.

2006-10-09 08:55:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋

Oceanic crust comes from the mantle which is dominated by ferro-magnesian minerals - the same as go to make up Basalt.
Continental crust is granitic because the main components - silica and feldspars - are less dense than the mantle and so floated to the top to form, literally, a crust.

2006-10-09 10:00:52 · answer #2 · answered by black sheep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋