Structure of the Earth.
Continental crust: depth of 0-75 kilometres
This is the outer part of the Earth composed essentially of crystalline rocks. These
are low-density buoyant minerals dominated mostly by quartz (SiO 2) and feldspars
(metal-poor silicates). The crust is the surface of the Earth. Because cold rocks
deform slowly, we refer to this rigid outer shell as the lithosphere
Oceanic crust:
depth of 0-10
kilometres
The majority of the
Earth's crust was
made through
volcanic activity.
The oceanic ridge
system, a 40,000
kilometre network
of volcanoes,
generates new
oceanic crust at
the rate of 17 km3
per year, covering
the ocean floor
with an igneous
rock called basalt.
Hawaii and Iceland
are two examples
of the
accumulation of
basalt islands.
Upper mantle:
depth of 10-400 kilometres
Solid fragments of the upper mantle have been found in eroded mountain belts and
volcanic eruptions. Olivine (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 and pyroxene (Mg,Fe)SiO3 have been found.
These and other minerals are crystalline at high temperatures. Part of the upper
mantle called the asthenosphere might be partially molten.
Transition region: depth of 400-650 kilometres
The transition region or mesosphere (for middle mantle), sometimes called the
fertile layer and is the source of basaltic magmas. It also contains calcium,
aluminium, and garnet, which is a complex aluminium-bearing silicate mineral. This
layer is dense when cold because of the garnet. It is buoyant when hot because
these minerals melt easily to form basalt which can then rise through the upper
layers as magma. Scientists have measured the amounts of material in these
layers by examining basaltic magmas on the earths surface.
Lower mantle: depth of 650-2,890 kilometres
The lower mantle is probably composed mainly of silicon, magnesium, and oxygen.
It probably also contains some iron, calcium, and aluminium. Scientists make these
deductions by assuming the Earth has a similar abundance and proportion of
cosmic elements as found in the Sun and primitive meteorites.
D" layer: depth of 2,700-2,890 kilometres
This layer is 200 to 300 kilometres thick. Although it is often identified as part of the
lower mantle, seismic evidence suggests the D" layer might differ chemically from
the lower mantle lying above it. Scientists think that the material either dissolved in
the core, or was able to sink through the mantle but not into the core because of its
density.
Outer core: depth of 2,890-5,150 kilometres
The outer core is a hot, electrically conducting liquid (mainly Iron and Nickel). This
conductive layer combines with Earth's rotation to create a dynamo effect that
maintains a system of electrical currents creating the Earth's magnetic field. It is
also responsible for the subtle jerking of Earth's rotation. This layer is not as dense
as pure molten iron, which indicates the presence of lighter elements. Scientists
suspect that about 10% of the layer is composed of sulphur and oxygen because
these elements are abundant in the cosmos and dissolve readily in molten iron.
Inner core: depth of 5,150-6,370 kilometres
The inner core is made of solid iron and nickel and is unattached to the mantle,
suspended in the molten outer core. It is believed to have solidified as a result of
pressure-freezing which occurs to most liquids under extreme pressure.
Crust Recycling, Convection and Continental Drift.
Crust is being created at the mid
ocean ridges and being eaten at the
subduction zones. The movement
processes are driven by the
convection currents created by the
heat produced by natural radioactive
processes deep within the Earth.
Convection occurs because the
density of a fluid is related to its
temperature. Hot rocks lower in the
mantle are less dense than their
cooler counterparts above. The hot
rock rises and the cooler rock sinks
due to gravity.
Plate tectonics: The main features are:
The Earth's surface is made up of a
series of large plates (like pieces of a
giant jigsaw puzzle). These plates are
in constant motion travelling at a few
centimetres per year. The ocean
floors are continually moving,
spreading from the centre and
sinking at the edges.
Convection currents beneath the
plates move the plates in different
directions.
The source of heat driving the convection currents is radioactive decay which is
happening deep in the Earth.
