Is Granite Part Of The Continental Crust

Some of the.

Is granite part of the continental crust.

The rocks in this layer are made up of light colored granite rich in minerals and substances like aluminum oxygen and silicon. The continental crust forms one third of the earth s surface and makes up all of the dry land found on earth. Continental crust is typically 40 km 25 miles thick while oceanic crust is much thinner. In fact about 40 of the surface of the earth is made up of this layer.

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. They focused in particular on the bear valley intrusive suite a unique formation in that it represents the vestiges of new continental crust that is today exposed on the surface as a 40 mile stretch of granite. Continental crust is the layer of igneous sedimentary and metamorphic rocks that forms the geological continents and the areas of shallow seabed close to their shores known as continental shelves this layer is sometimes called sial because its bulk composition is richer in silicates and aluminium minerals and has a lower density compared to the oceanic crust called sima which is richer in. It is made up of a variety of rock types all of which are lighter than the denser more tightly packed rocks found in the oceanic crust.