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  • Continental Crust Composition: Understanding Igneous Rocks and Beyond
    While igneous rocks play a significant role in the formation of continental crust, it's not accurate to say that the continental crust is *made* of igneous rock. Here's why:

    * Igneous Rocks Are the Foundation: Continental crust initially forms from magma that cools and solidifies, creating igneous rocks like granite.

    * Metamorphism and Sedimentation: Over time, these igneous rocks are subjected to intense heat and pressure, undergoing metamorphism to form metamorphic rocks like gneiss. Sedimentary rocks, formed from eroded fragments of pre-existing rocks, also become part of the continental crust.

    * A Complex Mosaic: Continental crust is therefore a complex mosaic of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

    In short, while igneous rocks are the initial building blocks, the continental crust is a layered and diverse mixture of rock types.

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