first topic Earth's structure G10 firstq

• The Earth's structure


  • Crust
  • Mantle
  • Core
• Core


  Composed mainly of iron, nickel, sulphur, oxygen, and possibly uranium
• Inner core


  • Solid
  • About 4300°F
• Outer core


  • Liquid
  • Surrounds the inner core
• Mantle


  The layer between the Earth's core and crust
• Inner mantle


  • Solid
• Outer mantle


  • Plastic (partially melted solid)
• Crust


  The thin, rocky brittle outer coating of the earth, including both continents and seafloors
• Continental crust


  • The land crust of the earth
• Oceanic crust


  • The crust underlying the ocean basins
  • Thinner than the continental crust
  • Generally younger than the continental crust
• Mohorovicic discontinuity


  Separates the crust and the mantle
• Outermost layer of the earth

  • Lithosphere
  • Asthenosphere
• Lithosphere


  Composed of the crust and the upper part of the mantle
• Asthenosphere


  Part of the mantle that flows like plastic
• Continental lithosphere


  • Composed mostly of granite rocks rich in silica and aluminium
• Oceanic lithosphere


  • Comprises basalt rocks rich in magnesium and aluminium