Oceanic crust Oceanic crust Oceanic crust is the uppermost layer of the oceanic portion of a tectonic plate. It is composed of the upper oceanic crust, with pillow lavas and a dike complex, and the lower oceanic crust, composed of troctolite, gabbro and ultramafic cumulates. The crust overlies the solidified and uppermost layer of the mantle. The crust and the solid mantle layer together constitute oceanic lithosphere. Oceanic crust is primarily composed of mafic rocks, or sima, which is rich in iron and magnesium. It is thinner than continental crust, or sial, generally less than 10 kilometers thick; however it is denser,
International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment The International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (), formerly International Association for Engineering Geology, also known as IAEG (), is an international scientific society which was founded in 1964. It is affiliated with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and has 3,798 members and 59 national groups all over the world. The association aims to promote and encourage the advancement of engineering geology through technological activities and research. At the same time it strives to improve teaching and training in engineering geology, and to collect, evaluate and disseminate the