Earths Crust
The crust is not uniform. The oceanic crust on average is about 7 km thick and composed of the dark igneous rock basalt. The continental crust on average is about 35 to 40 km thick but may exceed 70 km in mountainous regions and consists of many rock types.
Earths Mantle
Contains > 82% of earths volume. Nearly 2900 km. Can be divided into two different parts, the stiff lithosphere and the weaker asthenosphere.
Earths Mantle
The upper mantle extends from the crustmantle boundary down to 660 km depth. Dominant rock type in the uppermost mantle is peridotite, which is richer in metals magnesium and iron.
Earths Mantle
The lower mantle starts from 660 km depth to the top of the core, at 2900 km depth. The rocks are very hot and capable of very gradual flow.
Earths Core
An iron-nickel alloy with minor amounts of oxygen, silicon and sulfur. Outer core is a liquid layer 2270 km thick. Its the movement of metallic iron within this zone that generates earths magnetic field. Inner core is a sphere having r = 1216 km and is solid due to the immense pressure.