• The interior of the earth can be divided into 3 different layers – crust, mantle, and

core.

• The crust is the outermost layer of the earth, and the core is the innermost layer
of the earth, located at a depth of 2900 Km.
The Earth’s Internal Structure
Introduction
• The Earth is an oblate spheroid.
• It is composed of a number of different layers as determined by deep drilling and seismic
evidence
• The structure of the earth is divided into four major components and these are:
1. The crust,
2. Mantle,
3. Outer core, and
4. Inner core.

• Each layer has a unique chemical composition, physical state, and can impact life on Earth's
surface.

• Composition means “nature of something's ingredients or constituents; the way in which

• While physical state is the form in which matter exists, such as solid, liquid, gas.
 The core
• The core which is approximately 7000 kilometres in diameter (3500
kilometers in radius) and is located at the Earth’s center.
 The core
• The core (barysphere) is a layer rich in iron and nickel that is composed of two layers: the inne
and outer cores.
 The inner core

• The inner core is thought to be solid with a density of about 13 grams per cubic centimetre and a
radius of about 1220 kilometres. The gravitational pull of the Earth is greatest here.
 The outer core

• The outer core is liquid and has a density of about 11 grams per cubic centimeter. It surrounds
the inner core and has an average thickness of about 2250 kilometres.

• The boundary between the core and the next layer, the mantle, is called the Gutenberg
discontinuity
 The mantle
• The mantle which surrounds the core and has a thickness of 2900 kilometers.
The core
 The mantle

• The mantle (or mesosphere) is almost 2900 kilometers thick and comprises
about 83% of the Earth’s volume.

• It is made up of several different layers which include:

1. Upper mantle

2. The lithosphere

3. Lower mantle
 Layers of the Mantle
• The Upper Mantle exists from the base of the crust downward to a depth of about 670
kilometers.

• This region of the Earth’s interior is thought to be composed of peridotite, an ultramafic

rock made up of the minerals olivine and pyroxene.

• The top layer of the upper mantle, 100 to 200 kilometers below surface, is called the
asthenosphere.

• Scientific studies suggest that this layer has physical properties that are different from the
rest of the upper mantle.

• The rocks in this upper portion of the mantle are more rigid and brittle because of cooler
 Layers of the Mantle
 The lower mantle

• The lower mantle lies below the upper mantle extending from 670 to 2900
kilometers below the Earth’s surface.

• This layer is hot and plastic.

• The higher pressure in this layer causes the formation of minerals that are
different from those of the upper mantle.
 Layers of the Mantle
 The lithosphere

• The lithosphere is a layer that includes the crust and the upper most portion of the asthenosphere.

• This layer is about 100 kilometers thick and has the ability to glide over the rest of the upper
mantle.

• Because of increasing temperature and pressure, deeper portions of the lithosphere are capable of
plastic flow over geologic time.

• The lithosphere is also the zone of earthquakes, mountain building, volcanoes, and continental drift.

• The boundary between the mantle and the outer layer of the Earth (the crust) is known as the
Mohorovicic discontinuity.
 The mantle
• The portion of the interior beyond the crust is called the mantle.

• It is in a solid-state.

• It has a density higher than the crust portion.

• The thickness ranges from 10-200 km.

• The mantle extends from Moho’s discontinuity to a depth of 2,900 km.

• The asthenosphere is the upper portion of Mantle.

• It is the chief source of magma that finds its way to the surface during volcanic eruptions.

• The crust and the uppermost part of the mantle are called the lithosphere.

• The major constituent elements of the mantle are Silicon and Magnesium and hence it is also
 The crust
• The crust floats on top of the mantle.

• It is composed of basalt rich oceanic crust and granite rich continental crust. The
crust is 8 km below the oceans and about 48 km under the continents
 The crust
• The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth.

• This material is cool, rigid, and brittle.

• Two types of crust can be identified:

1. Oceanic crust and

2. Continental crust.

• Both of these types of crust are less dense than the rock found in the underlying
upper mantle layer
 Layers of the earth crust
 The continental crust

• The continental crust is 20 to 70 kilometers thick and composed mainly of lighter

granite (mainly silica and alumina, hence the name sial).

• The density of continental crust is about 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter.

• It is thinnest in areas like the rift valleys and thickest beneath mountain ranges
and extends into the mantle.

• Continental crust contains some very old rocks that were formed during the
Precambrian between3 and 4 billion years ago.
 The crust

• Both of these crust types are composed of numerous tectonic plates that float on
top of the mantle.

• Convection currents within the mantle cause these plates to move slowly across
the asthenosphere.

• Sedimentary deposits are commonly found at the boundaries between the

continental and oceanic crust.
 Layers of the earth crust
 The oceanic crust

• The oceanic crust is thin and measures between 5 to 10 kilometers thick.

• It is also composed of basalt and has a density of about 3.0 grams per cubic
centimeter.

• It is called sima because it is rich in silica and magnesia.

• Oceanic rocks are normally quite young deposits.

• Isotopic dating of the rocks found on the sea-floor indicates that they were
created less than 180 million years ago.
 The crust
• The crust is the outermost solid part of the earth.
• It is fragile.
• The thickness of the crust varies under the oceanic and continental areas.
• Oceanic crust is thinner as compared to the continental crust.
• The continental crust is thicker in the areas of major mountain systems.
• The crust is made up of heavier rocks having a density of 3 g/cm3.
• The kind of rock seen in the oceanic crust is basalt.
• The mean density of material in the oceanic crust is 2.7 g/cm3.
• Silica (Si) and Aluminium (Al) are major constituent minerals.
• Hence it is often termed as SIAL.
• Also, sometimes SIAL is used to refer to the Lithosphere.
END