Which rock type is most abundant in Earth’s continental crust?

In the continental crust, granite and granite-like igneous rocks are among the most abundant rock types, though the crust is actually made of a mix of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Granite is common because continental crust is relatively silica-rich and has been repeatedly reworked over geologic time. By contrast, oceanic crust is dominated by basalt, which is denser and richer in iron and magnesium. This difference is one reason continents stand higher than ocean basins. The contrast between granite and basalt is a foundational concept in geology.