5. Worldwide, the oldest rocks at the ocean floor are about 180 million years old. In contrast, the oldest continental rocks are approximately 4 billion years old.Is this observation consistent with the observed tendency for oceanic rather than continental lithosphere to descend into the mantle beneath ocean trenches?Is it consistent with the observed density of oceanic (3.0 g/cm3) versus continental (2.8 g/cm3) crust?

Continental crust is very much older than oceanic crust. Because continental crust is very rarely…

Answered: Worldwide, the oldest rocks at the…

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)

9th Edition

ISBN:9780134746241

Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa

Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa

Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1LR

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5. Worldwide, the oldest rocks at the ocean floor are about 180 million years old. In contrast, the oldest continental rocks are approximately 4 billion years old.

Is this observation consistent with the observed tendency for oceanic rather than continental lithosphere to descend into the mantle beneath ocean trenches?
Is it consistent with the observed density of oceanic (3.0 g/cm³) versus continental (2.8 g/cm³) crust?

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