oceanizationn.
/ˌəʊʃn̩ʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˈˌoʊʃənəˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˈˌoʊʃəˌnaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ Geology.
The conversion of continental crust into the much thinner and petrologically distinct oceanic crust.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > formation of features > [noun] > oceanization of crust
oceanization1960
1960 Jrnl. Geophysical Res. 65 4128/2 We must do our best to find an explanation of this ‘oceanization’ of the earth's crust.
1966 Science 9 Dec. 1365/2 Others insisted that the region offers a fine example of oceanization, the conversion of sialic continental crust into oceanic simatic crust by some not clearly specified process.
1975 Nature 6 Feb. 396/2 The Soviet tectonician Belousov has gone so far as to invoke extensive ‘oceanisation’ of continental crust to account for the ocean basins.
1982 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 305 202 This reconstruction..integrates two conflicting schools of thought, showing that the conventional plate tectonic theories and the oceanization theories of the fixists can be reconciled.
2000 Geol. Mag. 137 1 Whereas carbonate platform deposits became widespread along the margin of the Neo-Tethys (northern rim of Oman), drifting and oceanization of the Batain basin started only in Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous time.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1960