The Tectonic Cycle

Page 1

The Internal Structure Of The Earth

THE MANTLE:Made up of rock.Molten or semi-molten state.

THE OUTER CORE:Made up of mainly iron.Molten/liquid state.

THE INNER CORE:Made up of mainly iron and nickel.Solid state.Very high temperatures (up tp 5000 C).

THE CRUST:Made up of solid rock.Two main types,oceanic and continetal.

The lithosphere is the term used to describe the Earth's crust and the solid upper mantle.To lithify means 'to turn to rock'.

The rock of the asthenosphere layer are partially melted.The lithosphere floats on top of this layer.

The asthenosphere carries the lithosphere of the Earth,including the continents.The rocks of the asthenosphere flow in response to pressure exerted on them from the movemenr of the interior of the Earth.The asthenosphere is located in the upper mantle of the Earth of depths of 100-240 km

The moho is the boundary located between the Earth's crust and the mantle.This boundary is located approximantely 5-10 km below the ocean floor and on average 35 km beneath the continents.The moho separates oceanic crust and continental crust fro underlying mantle.

Continental crust is thick,30-70 km in thickness,made of silica and alumina (SIAL)

Oceanic crust,thinner,3-10 km in thickness,made of silica and magnesium (SIMA)