The Geography of Earth's Young Crust

What is special about the Earth's crust? The lightest, most buoyant rock layer on the Earth is called the crust. 41% of the Earth's surface is made up of continental crust, while 25% of that surface is underwater. 20 to 80 kilometers thick, the continental crust. The Earth's past four billion years are preserved in its rocks. The crust of the Earth was initially broken up into a great number of tiny plates. As a result of the ongoing movement and collision of these plates, new landforms including mountains and oceans were created. Although some of these smaller plates eventually joined to form bigger ones, the geography of the crust as a whole remained characterized by a great number of smaller plates. Thus, the ideal selection is option D.

Special Characteristics of Earth's Crust

Continental Crust: The continental crust covers 41% of the Earth's surface and is thicker compared to oceanic crust. It is primarily made up of granite and is less dense than oceanic crust.

Underwater Crust: 25% of the Earth's surface is underwater, and this area is predominantly composed of oceanic crust made of basalt. This crust is denser than the continental crust.

Thickness: The continental crust can vary in thickness from 20 to 80 kilometers, showcasing the diversity of the Earth's crust composition.

Formation of Landforms: The movement and collision of tectonic plates have played a crucial role in shaping the Earth's surface over billions of years. This process has led to the creation of mountains, valleys, and oceans.

Plate Tectonics: The Earth's crust is divided into several tectonic plates that constantly move and interact with each other. This dynamic activity results in geological events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Preservation of Earth's History: The rocks within the Earth's crust preserve valuable information about the planet's geological past, helping scientists unravel the mysteries of Earth's evolution.

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