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continental crust |
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continental crust [¦känt·ən¦ent·əl ′krəst] (geology) The basement complex of rock, that is, metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rock with associated igneous rocks mainly granitic, that underlies the continents and the continental shelves. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| The other components contain "materials" such as basaltic ocean floor (HIMU), pelagic sediments (EM1), oceanic plateaus (EM1), subcontinental lithosphere (EM1, EM2), terrigenous sediments or subducted continental crust (EM2), which have been recycled by subduction processes, and mixed back into the depleted mantle. In this case, the oceanic crust of the Pacific Plate grinds northward past the continental crust that makes up North America. Drilling equipment finds independent ecosystems lurking 10,000 feet below the continental crust. |
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