When plates move which type will float higher on the asthenosphere and why?

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1121840

2026-08-03 03:05

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When tectonic plates move, continental plates tend to float higher on the asthenosphere compared to oceanic plates. This is because continental plates are generally thicker and less dense, composed mainly of lighter granitic rocks, whereas oceanic plates are thinner and denser, primarily made of basalt. The lower density of continental plates allows them to "float" more buoyantly on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath.

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