EESA06H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Continental Crust, Mantle (Geology), Oceanic Crust
Document Summary
Mantle: the mantle is compositionally distinct zone of the earth composed of iron and magnesium-rich silicate minerals, rocks in the mantle largely consist of ultramafic rocks like peridotite. Core: the core of the earth is composed of iron and nickel metal alloys. Inner core: the inner core is a solid because it is subjected to higher pressures than the outer core. Outer core: the outer core is liquid metal because it is subjected to lower pressure than the solid inner core. Mesosphere: the mesosphere is the section of the mantle that is rigid below the mechanically-weak asthenosphere and the liquid outer core, although it is solid, the mantle still deforms over very long time frames. Earth and geologists are forever trying to learn more about the subsurface: drilling into the earth"s crust can provide geologists with samples. But even the deepest drilling project on earth, the kola.
