What type of rock zone is primarily associated with oceanic crust?

Oceanic crust is primarily associated with mafic rocks, which are characterized by their relatively high content of iron and magnesium. This composition is due to the geological processes that form oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges, where molten rock from the mantle rises to the surface, cools, and solidifies. The predominant mafic rock types found in oceanic crust are basalt and gabbro.

Mafic rocks are typically denser than felsic rocks, which contain higher amounts of silica and are lighter in color. In contrast, metamorphic and igneous refers to processes rather than specific rock compositions: metamorphic rocks form from the alteration of existing rocks under heat and pressure, while igneous rocks can be either mafic or felsic based on their mineral content. However, in the context of oceanic crust, it is specifically the mafic characteristic that is most relevant and defining.