Why does continental crust sit higher than oceanic crust? …
Why does continental crust sit higher than oceanic crust? Continental crust sits higher because it has more material beneath it. Ocean crust has to cover 70% of the Earth’s surface, so it is spread out and therefore thinner. The granite-type rock that makes up much of continental crust naturally forms mountains. Continental crust of granite is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust of basalt, so it floats higher on the mantle.
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