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,
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment and groundwater conditions of geological formations; characterization of the mineralogical, physico-geomechanical, chemical and hydraulic properties of earth materials involved in construction, resource recovery and environmental change; assessment of the mechanical and hydrological behavior of soil and rock masses; prediction of changes to the above properties with time; determination of the parameters to be considered in analyzing the stability of engineering works and earth masses; maintenance of the environmental condition and properties of the terrain. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment The Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research in geoscience. It is