Abstract
The determination of the structure of the oceanic crust has been achieved mainly by indirect methods because the ocean floor is relatively inaccessible and there are limitations to the depths penetrable by drilling (currently about 1 km below the seafloor). Our current knowledge of crustal structure is based on three sources of information: (1) rock samples obtained by submersibles and from oceanic islands, drill core and dredge hauls; (2) geophysical data; and (3) subaerially exposed fragments of ocean crust and upper mantle, that is, ophiolites (Chapter 1).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Spray, J. (1991). Structure of the oceanic crust as deduced from ophiolites. In: Floyd, P.A. (eds) Oceanic Basalts. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3540-9_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3540-9_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6571-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3540-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive