Re: What happens to the rock of the oceanic plate that is not subducted?

Hi Robert,

What happens is the follow:

The override plate is subducted, or thrust downward into the mantle below, 
where eventually it is recycled. Collision and subduction produce deep-sea 
trenches, adjacent mountain ranges of folded and faulted rocks, and 
magmatic belts.

Once subducted lithosphere is heated and partially melted, it joins hot 
mantle materials as a source of magma to feed and build the overlying 
chain of volcanoes. The collision of two plates generates very large 
forces in the region, and in a general way these forces must result in the 
faulting that triggers the shallow (and deep) focus earthquakes that occur 
in subduction zones.

Well, I hope I'd helped you with this fast explanation!

Emilson P. Leite