How Material From the Asthenosphere Is Transformed Into Continental Crust

Asthenosphere

Ocean crust

Part of Earth's lithosphere that underlies ocean basins. Oceanic crust is primarily composed of mafic rocks (rich in iron and magnesium) and are less dense than rocks that underlie continents (continental crust is enriched in silica and aluminum). Ocean crust around the world is significantly younger (less than 200 million years) relative to continental crust which has typically accumulated through the natural refining processes associated with plate-tectonics over many hundreds of millions to several billion years.

Continental crust

The relatively thick part of the earth's crust that forms the large landmasses. It is generally older and more complex than the oceanic crust, and dominantly composed of igneous and metamorphic of granitic or more felsic composition.


Plate tectonic model

Subduction introduces oceanic crustal rocks (including sediments) back into the Asthenosphere. Water and gas helps low-temperature minerals to melt and rise as, forming new continental crust (less dense than oceanic crust). Floating on the Asthenosphere, the continental crustal materials accumulate, forming continents.