Ocean Crust Formation

OCEAN CRUST FORMATION

(Press & Siever)

– HOT MUSH OF BASALTIC CRYSTALS (85%) AND MELT (15%) RISES

– MELT CONCENTRATED IN MAGMA LENS (yellow)

– MAGMA DIKES ERUPT TO FORM SEAFLOOR PILLOW LAVAS AND UNDERLYING SHEETED DIKES

– THIN LAYER OF OCEANIC SEDIMENT STARTS TO COVER NEW CRUST

– MUSH COOLS TO FORM LOWER LAYERS OF GABBROIC OCEANIC CRUST AS PLATES SPREAD APART