An interactive simulation where the learner constructs the oceanic crust layer by layer, understanding the formation process and relative thicknesses.
Learn MotionWhy Oceans Don't Drain Into the Ground
The Structure of the Seafloor
Interactive: Building the Ocean Floor
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Now, let's build the ocean floor yourself. Start from the bottom. First, choose the layer that forms deep underground from slowly cooling magma. That's gabbro. Next, add the layer that forms when lava hits the ocean water. That's basalt. Finally, add the layer that accumulates over time from dust and shells. That's sediment. Notice how the gabbro layer is the thickest? That's because it makes up the bulk of the crust. This interactive model helps you see the true structure of the seafloor.
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