What is Continental Crust?

The Earth began to form around a newly ignited Sun around 4.5 billion years ago. Earth
formed out of the gravitational accumulation of the leftover debris in the solar nebula that
birthed the Sun. This process of gravitational accumulation grows more violent with the
increase in Earth's size. Larger and larger materials get caught in Earth's gravitational
well leading to violent impacts. Early Earth was mostly molten because of the heat
generated by so many impacts. Much of early Earth was fluid, and the varying elements
and materials that composed Earth were differentiated into layers because of their
differences in density. Heavier and denser elements like iron and nickel sank deeper into
Earth's interior in larger quantities. Whereas lighter elements like silicon and oxygen rose
to the surface in larger quantities. This process of differentiation created Earth's varying
layers: the core, mantle, and crust. Even these layers vary in their composition with depth.
The Earth's crust varies in composition as less dense elements and materials make up
the continental crust in larger quantities.

Earth is composed of many elements and materials which were differentiated into layers during the
formation of Earth. The oceanic crust and continental crust composition are outlined in this image
along with other layer compositions.

Continental Crust Definition

The continental crust is the geological layer that makes up the continents and their
surrounding shallow seabed or continental shelves. Continental crust can be compared
with the denser oceanic crust which is found in deep oceans. Both crusts essential float
on the Earth's mantle and are broken up into tectonic plates which are dragged along
with convection currents within the mantle. The crust is not fixed or eternal, it is slowly but
constantly being remade. Along divergent plate boundaries magma rises and solidifies
creating new oceanic crust, while old crust is sometimes subducted and plunged back
into the mantle along convergent plate boundaries.

This map shows the continental crust alongside the oceanic crust. New oceanic crust is made at
the divergent boundaries in the middle of ocean along mid-ocean ridges.

Where is the Continental Crust Located?

The continental crust is one of the outermost layers of Earth. Being made up of less
dense elements, compounds, or minerals it is located at the surface of the crust on
continents and continental shelves. Continental crust is found all over the world on land
and continents, but it does extend into oceans at shallow depths making up continental
shelves.

The continental crust does not just make up the continents and land. It also extends into the ocean
as continental shelves. Continental crust thickness decreases on shelves.
How is Continental Crust Formed?
The continental crust formed between 3.5 and 2 billion years ago. The volume of
continental crust on Earth has remained relatively the same over geological time, being
reworked, pushed, and deformed over billions of years. Rarely is the continental crust
subducted back into the mantle as oceanic crust is the denser of the two. When
continental crusts collide, they are mostly uplifted into mountain ranges and only partial
melting occurring deep within the crust along these mountain ranges. Because
continental crust is rarely destroyed by plate tectonics, it is the best preserver of Earth's
geological history. Continental crust is more often formed and created by plate tectonic
forces, however.
Continental crust mostly forms along convergent plate boundaries. When an oceanic
plate subducts under continental crust, some material is melted by Earth's geothermal
gradient before rising again as magma and contributing to new continental material when
it solidifies. Geophysicists aren't in agreement regarding how much the continental crust
is increasing or decreasing in volume, or if it has been remaining the same since it was
first comprised out of mantle-derived melts.

Continental Crust Characteristics

The continental crust is made up of layers of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic
rocks. Much of the continental crust can be differentiated from the oceanic crust in their
thickness, density, composition, and temperature.
The continental crust is less dense than the oceanic crust, having an average density of
approximately 2.8 grams per cubic centimeter. However, the continental crust is much
thicker than the oceanic crust and can range in depths from 25 kilometers to up to 50
kilometers in thickness. The thicker regions of the continental crust are found within
mountain ranges, which were uplifted and thickened from colliding plates. Mountain
ranges also have mountain roots, where colliding material is pushed deeper into Earth's
interior contributing to increased thickness of the continental crust. The continental crust
also differs in its composition compared to oceanic crust.
Continental Crust Composition
The continental crust is largely comprised of silicon and oxygen which make up about
60% of its mass. The rocks and minerals that make up the continental crust are largely
more felsic than oceanic. Feldspar, granite, quartz, and pyroxenes are all common within
the continental crust. Additionally, the most common metal within the continental crust is
the lighter element aluminum. Other heavier metals like iron, copper, and gold are found
in smaller quantities in the continental crust. These metals are brought surface layers due
to convection currents in the mantle contributing to their rise, melting, and leaching within
the continental crust.

Continental Crust Temperature

The Earth still has left-over heat from its violent formation. Additionally, heavy radioactive
elements within Earth decay and release radiation as heat. Earth has varying
temperature that follow a gradient, the geothermal gradient. The temperature of materials
that make up Earth increases with depth. Humans have only dug approximately 12.2
kilometers into the continental crust. Its temperature increases by ~30 degrees Celsius
for every kilometer of increased depth. Deeper regions within the continental crust can
range from 300 to 500 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, Earth has a pressure gradient. The surface of the continental crust
experiences 1 atmosphere of pressure which is equal to approximately 14.7 pounds per
square inch (psi). This pressure increases with depth. For every 10 meters in increased
depth, the pressure increases by ~14.5 psi. This pressure gradient contributes to the
formation of crust. As mantle material rises from within Earth it experiences a decrease in
pressure which allows for the material to melt. This magma can then rise and solidify
contributing to the formation of new crust.

Oceanic Crust vs. Continental Crust

Both the continental and oceanic crusts can be differentiated from one another in their
density, thickness, temperature, and composition.

This image outlines oceanic crust vs continental crust. They both differ in composition, density, and
thickness.
 Continental Crust Oceanic Crust
Average Density: 2.8 g/cm cubed 2.9 g/cm cubed
Thickness: 30 to 50 kilometers 5 to 10 kilometers
Temperature: < 0 to 500 degrees Celsius 200-400 degrees Celsius
Feldspar
Basalt
Granite
Troctolite
Quartz
Gabbro
Pyroxene
Silicon
Composition: Silicon
Oxygen
Oxygen
Iron
Aluminum
Magnesium
Sodium
Calcium
Potassium

Lesson Summary
The continental crust is one of two kinds of crust and can be differentiated with oceanic
crust. The continental crust is located at Earth's surface at 1 atmosphere of pressure,
making up Earth's land and continents. It extends partially into the ocean as continental
shelves. The continental crust is thicker than oceanic crust and can range in thickness
from 30 to 50 kilometers, whereas oceanic crust ranges from 5 to 10 kilometers. The
deepest parts of the continental crust can reach temperatures of 300 to 500 degrees
Celsius as Earth has a geothermal gradient that increases in temperature with depth.
Most of the continental crust is felsic rock, and feldspar, granite, and quartz are all
commonly found. This is what makes continental crust "continental" - its composition.
The continental crust is high is silicon and oxygen content (as is oceanic) which makes
up about 60% of its mass. However, continental crust has higher concentrations of
aluminum, sodium, and potassium when compared to oceanic which is higher in iron,
magnesium, and calcium. Geophysicists are still debating at what rates the continental
crust is being created, destroyed, or remaining relatively consistent through geological
time. Regardless, continental crust is formed most commonly at the collisions between
two tectonic plates. Occasionally oceanic crust can be subducted under continental crust
where it melts into magma and rises again to the surface forming new continental crust.