Continent-oceanic crust collisions

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Subduction zone of continental-oceanic crust collision. Kios and Tilling, 1996, Dynamic Earth, USGS
Subduction zone of continental-oceanic crust collision. Kios and Tilling, 1996, Dynamic Earth, USGS

Basaltic oceanic crust is much denser than granitic continental crust. When these two collide the continental crust overrides the oceanic crust.

  • The overriding continental crust bunches up to form a mountain range.
  • The subducted oceanic crust melts as it is forced deeper beneath the continental plate (water trapped in the rocks reduce the melting temperature of the basaltic rocks). This molten rock (magma) can find its way up to the surface to create volcanoes along the mountain range.
  • A deep offshore trench forms where the oceanic crust is forced to bend downward.
The Andes mountains and the South American trench
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The Andes mountains and the South American trench
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Movies

Subduction zone movie from From NOAA Ocean Explorer


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New and improved diagram

Continental-oceanic collision.
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Continental-oceanic collision.


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