1. Geology Thinking Sheet 12/1/17 or 12/4/17
What is the chemical composition of these items:
Water
Air
Human Body
(HINT: What atoms are in these items?)
Water – H2O
Air – N, O2, Ar trace elements
Body - oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. Only about 0.85% is composed of another five elements: potassium,sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium.

2. Describes the way a substance looks or interacts with other substances
Vocabulary!
Describes the way a substance looks or interacts with other substances
Physical Properties
Go to nearpod activity
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Mesosphere
Outer Core
Inner Core

3. These layers are separated based on how they interact with each other.
Physical Properties
These layers are separated based on how they interact with each other.

4. How the Earth is Separated
Scientists can separate the layers of the earth in two different ways.
The group of scientists that study what the layers are made of look at CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
The group of scientists that study how the layers interact look at PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Have students record the two ways earth is separated at the top of their “Layers of the Earth” note sheet (you will see blank lines where they can write in the words “chemical” and “physical”)

5. Chemical Composition
First we will discuss chemical composition layers.
These layers separated based on the kinds of atoms and molecules in each layer.

6. Chemical Composition
Crust
Mantle
Core

7. Si O Crust The crust is the OUTER MOST layer of the Earth.
It is composed mostly of a molecule called SILICA. Silica has a low density. Si 14 8
Silica, in its most basic form, is made up of one silicon atom and two oxygen atoms (SiO2). It is the molecule that makes sand and glass. Silica can also have a formula of SiO4. It is a very durable molecule with a crystal structure. As rocks are weathered over million of years, only silica is left behind, creating sand! O

8. Crust

9. Evidence: Crust Granite Obsidian
Analyzing the chemicals found in rocks that form near or on the surface
Granite
Obsidian
These are both igneous rocks (granite is intrusive, obsidian is extrusive). Magma that makes it to the surface of the earth is generally less dense than magma that remains in the mantle. Less dense magma is referred to as “felsic” and contains high amounts of silica.
72% SiO2
72.5% SiO2

10. Mantle Si O Mg Fe Thick, hot layer in the middle of the earth
The mantle is composed of silica as well, but there is also a lot more magnesium and iron in the mantle than in the crust Si 14 O 8 Mg 12 Fe 26

11. Evidence: Mantle
Analyzing rocks that come from the upper mantle. These are called peridotite xenoliths.
Image:

12. These mantle rocks have VERY high melting points, allowing them to remain solid, even under the high temperature and pressure of the mantle.
Image:

13. Evidence: Mantle
These rocks can flow through the mantle like ice in a pitcher of water.
When rocks from the mantle hitch a ride to the surface we can analyze their composition.

14. High in Magnesium and Iron
Evidence: Mantle
These rocks are formed in Earth’s upper mantle.
Peridotite
Eclogite
The magma that creates these rocks has a higher density than felsic magma that creates crustal rocks. This more dense magma is referred to as “mafic” and has high amounts of magnesium and iron.
Images:
Less than 45% SiO4
High in Magnesium
Less than 50% SiO2
High in Magnesium and Iron

15. Chemical Composition Sort the cards into two groups: Crustal Rocks
(made of mostly Si and O)
Mantle Rocks
(still has Si and O, but also includes Mg or/and Fe)

16. Fe Ni Core This is the innermost portion of the Earth.
Evidence suggests that the core is composed mostly of iron and nickel 26 28 Fe Ni
55.845

17. Magnetic fields are produced by moving electric charges.
Evidence: Core
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Magnetic fields are produced by moving electric charges.
Earth’s core is believed to be highly conductive molten iron. That along with the rotation of the earth allows a magnetic field to surround our Earth.

18. Evidence: Core
The composition of meteorites (called Chondrites) tells us there is a lot of iron and nickel in the center of the earth.

19. This image is suggesting that the composition of various, small meteorites can be used to infer the part of a larger meteorite from which they came.
Image and text source:
These two small meteorites probably came from the core and mantle of the same large asteroid. The pallasite came from the asteroid's core-mantle boundary, where olivine from the mantle mixed with iron-nickel metal from the core.

20. Image: www.mnh.si.edu/earth/text/4_1_5_0.html
Scientists have found that this is the composition of meteorites, which can lead us to assume that our Earth has the same composition.
A lot of the Silicon and Oxygen are in our crust, and much of the Magnesium is in the mantle.
This leads us to assume that the Iron (not found in abundance on the surface), must be in the core.

21. Additional Evidence
Seismic studies show that earthquake waves change velocity as they move through the earth. This is evidence that each layer is composed of different materials.
Image:

22. Physical Properties Lithosphere Asthenosphere Mesosphere Outer Core
Inner Core

23. Lithosphere
The lithosphere is a solid outer layer of the earth. (Litho = Rock)
It is made of Earth’s crust and the upper, solid part of the Mantle

24. Asthenosphere
The asthenosphere is a HOT, semi-solid layer just below the lithosphere. (Astheno = Weak)
It is made of Earth’s upper mantle. Scientists describe it as “plastic-like”

25. Asthenosphere
Evidence: Heat from volcanic lava comes from near the asthenosphere.

26. Physical Properties Important Interaction:
The SOLID Lithosphere floats on top of the SEMI-SOLID Asthenosphere…causing plate movement!
Lithosphere (rigid solid)
Asthenosphere (capable of flow)

27. Mesosphere
It is made of Earth’s middle and lower mantle. Scientists believe this layer is a fluid, semi-solid (like molasses or hot toothpaste)

28. Mesosphere
Evidence:
Earthquake waves increase their velocity in this layer.

29. Outer Core It is made of Earth’s upper core.
The outer core is made of liquid iron and nickel. (Liquid because of the high temperature)
This liquid metal is responsible for our magnetic field

30. Physical Properties Important Interaction:
Heat from the Mesosphere and Outer Core move magma upward into the Asthenosphere, where the temperature cools and the magma sinks.
Asthenosphere
Mesosphere
Outer Core

31. Inner Core The inner core is made of solid iron and nickel.
Density tells us that those heavy elements sink.
Pressure tells us that the center of the earth is so squished that the iron and nickel are in a solid state of matter.

32. Additional Evidence Again, Earthquakes Reveal the Layered Earth
P-wave (Primary) can travel through solids (like the lithosphere and asthenosphere) and liquids (like the outer core).
S-waves (Secondary) can only travel through solids (lithosphere and asthenosphere)