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DAILY
CLASS NOTES
Geography

Lecture - 02
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF
THE EARTH
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INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH

1. SIAL is situated close below the top layer of sediment. Granite is the main component.

This layer is dominated by silica and aluminium (SI+AL=SIAL). The thickness of this

layer ranges from 50 km to 300 km, and its average density is 2.9. This layer is

dominated by acidic substances and a potassium silicate. Excessive levels of sodium and

aluminium have been found.

2. Immediately below the sialic layer is SIMA. During volcanic eruptions, SIMA, which is

made of basalt, serves as the source of the magma and lava. (SI+MA=SIMA) The two

main components are silica and magnesium. The range for average density is between

2.9 and 4.7. From 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres thick. Magnesium, iron, and calcium

silicates are abundantly present.

Underneath the "sima" layer is 3-NIFE. This layer is composed of (NI+FE = NIFE). The

heavy metals that make up this layer are Fe (Iron) and NI (Nickel). These heavy metals

lead to exceptionally high density (11). The diameter of this zone is 6880 km. The presence

of iron (ferrium) suggests that the earth's interior is magnetic. This attribute also reveals

the earth's rigidity.

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Modern View on Interior of Earth:

Crust:

Crust: The crust is comparable to the apple skin from a distance. Its depth rarely exceeds

1% of the Earth's radius, or an average of 40–50 km, this however varies greatly

geographically.

❖ There are two varieties of crust:

1 Continental crust

2. The oceanic crust

❖ The transition point between the crust and the mantle is known as the "Moho" or

Mohovoriiç discontinuity. Shockwaves start moving more quickly at this point,

indicating a change in structure.

Oceanic Crust:

The oceanic crust is the component of the earth’s crust

that makes up the ocean basins. This part, which has a

density of around 3.0 g/cm3, is made up of dark basalt

rocks that contain minerals and substances silicon,

magnesium, and oxygen. A unique occurrence of

recycling happens to this layer. With time, solid mantle

gathers on the underside of the oceanic crust thus

forming two layers. The extra weight sinks the layer

into the mantle which leads to periodic melting and

recycling of the continental crust.

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Continental Crust:

The continental crust is that part of the crust that makes up the earth’s surface. In fact,

about 40% of the surface of the earth is made up of this layer. The rocks in this layer are

made up of light-coloured granite rich in minerals and substances like aluminium, oxygen,

and silicon. The continental crust has a density of about 2.6 g/cm3 which helps the

continents of the world to stay in one place.

Difference of Continental Crust and Oceanic Crust:

Parameters Continental Crust Oceanic Crust

Thickness 30-35 km 2-6 km

Density 2.7g/cm3 3-3.5g/cm3

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Composition Andesitic to Granite Basalt to Gabbro

Buoyancy High Low

Seismic Wave Low High

Age older (3.5 Bn Years) Young (200 Mn)

Destructibility Low (No destruction) High destructibility

Mantle:

❖ This zone ranges 25 to 70 km below the surface within the Earth’s interior to a depth

of 2,900 km.

❖ It is mainly composed of silicate rocks, rich in magnesium and iron. • Mantle has two

types; upper and lower mantle.

❖ In a semi-molten state the lower mantle remains, apart from the rigid top layer.

❖ At the mantles, temperatures may reach up to 5,000°C.

❖ High temperatures help to generate convection currents which drive plate tectonics.

❖ Weichert-Gutenberg discontinuity at the depth of 2900 km is the boundary between

the mantle and core.

Mantle is divide to 2 parts:

1. The Upper Mantle:

❖ Just below the crust, the upper mantle starts, and it terminates at the lower mantle.

Between 200 and 250 miles thick is the upper mantle.

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❖ The lower mantle makes up the majority of this region of the Earth since it is the

thickest, at around 1800 miles thick.

❖ The mantle near the crust has a temperature range of 900 to 1600 degrees

Fahrenheit.

❖ At greater depths, the temperature rises. Near the core, the lower mantle can reach

7000 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Asthenosphere:

❖ There are irregularities throughout the upper mantle. Its thin uppermost layer bears

striking similarities to the Earth's crust.

❖ It's part of the lithosphere, which also includes the crust.

❖ The asthenosphere is a portion of the upper mantle that lies beneath the lithosphere.

❖ The asthenosphere's rock is on the verge of melting. Around 1500°C, give or take

100°C, is the current temperature.

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❖ The pressure prevents it from melting and keeps it solid. The melting point of any rock

directly relates to the amount of pressure applied to it.

❖ The density of the asthenosphere is approximately 3.3 g/cm3. The density of the silica-

rich rocks that make up the crust is roughly 2.5 g/cm3. And the density of the entire

Earth is around 5.513 g/cm3.

Core:

❖ The Earth's core is the innermost part of the planet, located beneath the mantle and

surrounded by the outer core. It is primarily composed of iron and nickel, and is

thought to be about 1,200 km in radius.

❖ It is composed of iron and nickel and is the very centre of the Earth.

❖ It consists of the outer core and inner core.

❖ Temperature at the very centre of the Earth (6,300 km below surface) may reach

5,500°C.

❖ The outer core is responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field through a process

called the geodynamo.

❖ 10.5 is the density of the outer core and up to 16 is the inner core.

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