Asked by geiger
thickness/depth of the crust
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If you mean Earth's crust: typical depths are
- Continental crust: roughly 30–50 km thick on average (commonly ~35 km); can reach ~60–70 km beneath major mountain roots (e.g., Himalayas).
- Oceanic crust: much thinner, about 5–10 km (average ≈7 km); thinnest at mid-ocean ridges where new crust is forming.
The crust–mantle boundary (the Mohorovičić discontinuity, or "Moho") marks these depths and is measured with seismic waves. Note the crust is distinct from the lithosphere (which includes the crust plus the uppermost, rigid mantle) — the lithosphere can be hundreds of kilometers thick in cratonic regions.
If you want numbers for a specific location, or crust thickness on other planets (Moon, Mars), tell me which and I can give more detail.
- Continental crust: roughly 30–50 km thick on average (commonly ~35 km); can reach ~60–70 km beneath major mountain roots (e.g., Himalayas).
- Oceanic crust: much thinner, about 5–10 km (average ≈7 km); thinnest at mid-ocean ridges where new crust is forming.
The crust–mantle boundary (the Mohorovičić discontinuity, or "Moho") marks these depths and is measured with seismic waves. Note the crust is distinct from the lithosphere (which includes the crust plus the uppermost, rigid mantle) — the lithosphere can be hundreds of kilometers thick in cratonic regions.
If you want numbers for a specific location, or crust thickness on other planets (Moon, Mars), tell me which and I can give more detail.
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