ES 1213 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Basalt, Lithosphere, Rafting
15 Sep 2019
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Document Summary
Formation of the earth: as material accumulated to form earth, the high velocity impact of nebular debris and the decay of radioactive elements caused the temperature of the planet to increase. Internal structure of earth was learned through analyzing seismic waves from earthquakes: as waves of energy penetrate the planet they change speed and are bent or reflected as they move through the zones that have different properties. Strong layer: asthenosphere, hot, rock layer, weak- most rocks are close to their melting points and easily deformed, temperature/pressure regime that results in a small amount of melting, transition zone. Identified by a sudden increase in density: more ductile than crust, more prone to flow. Lower mantle: mantle strengthens with depth, very hot, gradual flow, solid but flows. Some amounts of o, si, and s- elements that readily form compounds with iron: varies from 10-13 g/cm^3, made of solid core and outer core, outer core.
