Is it ever possible for an continental plate to subduct under an oceanic plate?

Question

It is well known that oceanic plates subduct under continental plates. This may be attributed to the plate's age and density, plus the water on top of it. So I was wondering if it is ever possible for a continental plate to subduct under an oceanic plate, perhaps if the oceanic plate is covered with shallow water? I've tried to search up on this question on many search engines and sites but to no avail. Thanks for your answer!

Answer 1

Great question! (I am bias because this is my field of study) Yes, continental material can subduct under oceanic material, generally as the result of being attached to oceanic crust that is currently subducting. The evidence for this is coesite within a rock with a continental crust origin. This mineral began it's life as a quartz grain and has undergone metamorphism at depths of greater than 90 km. Therefore, the crustal material went down to depths of at least 90 km along a subduction zone and then was exhumed to the surface, which records the subduction of continental crust! I advise looking into coesite and the quite fierce debates that occurred around its origins in the 1980's.