What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust?

Unlike most terrestrial planets that have uniform crusts, Earth features two distinct types of crust: continental and oceanic. These two varieties differ in their chemical compositions, physical properties, and the geological processes that formed them. While oceanic crust forms along divergent margins and sinks during subduction, continental crust forms part of the thicker continental lithosphere.

What we know

• Earth has two distinct types of crust known as continental crust and oceanic crust. [3]
• Continental and oceanic crusts possess different chemical compositions and physical properties. [3]
• The two crust types were formed through different geological processes. [3]
• Tectonic plates are composed of oceanic lithosphere and thicker continental lithosphere, each topped by its own specific kind of crust. [4]

Where to go next

• how it workedHow do tectonic plates move across the asthenosphere?
• the bigger pictureWhat is Earth's outermost solid shell called?
• compared withHow do ocean basins compare to continental landmasses?
• how we knowWhat are the abundance levels of different elements in the Earth's crust?
• what followedHow does subduction destroy Earth's surface area?
• an unexpected connectionHow do Jupiter's icy moons exhibit plate tectonics?While Earth is the only planet currently known for active rock-based plate tectonics, Jupiter's moon Europa shows signs of moving ice crustal plates that interact similarly.

Sources

• [1]Abundance of elements in Earth's crust (Wikidata Q24580) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Abundance of elements in Earth's crust · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Crust (geology) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Plate tectonics · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Oceanic basin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

1. Who was Moritz Schlick?
2. /What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust?