* Density: Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust. This is primarily because oceanic crust is made up of basalt and gabbro, while continental crust is composed of granite and other less dense rocks.
* Subduction Zones: The denser oceanic crust is forced beneath the less dense continental crust at a convergent plate boundary called a subduction zone.
* Process: The subducting oceanic plate melts as it descends into the mantle, creating magma that rises to the surface, often resulting in volcanic arcs along the edge of the continent.
Examples:
* The Andes Mountains in South America are formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate (oceanic) beneath the South American Plate (continental).
* The Cascade Range in North America is formed by the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate (oceanic) beneath the North American Plate (continental).
Let me know if you'd like more details on the process of subduction!
