1. Structure of the Earth
A Hidden Story

3. The Crust Solid outermost layer Uppermost portion of lithosphere
Two Types:
Continental crust is thick (~35 km)
Granite
Oceanic crust is thin (1-10 km)
Basalt

4. Lithosphere Rigid outer layer
Composed of the crust and uppermost part of the mantle.
Least dense of all layers.
Broken into tectonic plates.

5. Asthenosphere Upper layer of mantle Under the crust Viscous
Flows under some conditions.

7. The Mantle Lithosphere Asthenosphere
Rigid outer layer of the Earth which extends slightly into the mantle
Asthenosphere
Low strength layer of the Earth below the lithosphere.
Extends for ~300 km into the mantle.
Composition
Physical Properties

8. The Mantle
Thick layer of ductile material (partially melted/partial solid)
Two Layers:
Lower Mantle (mesosphere)
Upper Mantle (asthenosphere + lithosphere)

11. The Core
Outer Core- Liquid layer comprised mainly of Iron-Nickel Alloy
Inner Core- Solid, innermost layer (actually a sphere)

12. Outer core Made of liquid iron and nickel
Spins and may generate a magnetic field.

13. Inner Core Solid iron and nickel
Extreme pressure results in the solid form
Inner and outer cores are most dense layers