Why do converging continental plates not subduct, but oceanic plates do?
Why do converging continental plates not subduct, but oceanic plates do?
Both plates carry pieces of the continent, so there is no ocean for the continent to be subducted under
Oceanic plates are too dense to subduct
Continental plates are not dense enough to subduct
Continental and oceanic plates have the same density as the asthenosphere
The correct answer is:
Continental plates are not dense enough to subduct.
Continental plates are composed of less dense continental crust, which is primarily composed of granitic rocks. This type of crust is less dense than the underlying oceanic crust, which is mainly composed of basaltic rocks. Due to being less dense, continental plates are unable to subduct or sink beneath the oceanic plates during a convergent boundary. Instead, when two continental plates collide, they form a mountain range or a plateau, as the crust is too buoyant to be subducted. On the other hand, oceanic plates, being denser, can subduct beneath other oceanic plates or continental plates.