what is earth made of

what is earth made of

1 month ago 5
Nature

Earth is composed of several distinct layers, each made of different materials:

  • Crust : The outermost layer is solid rock, primarily composed of minerals containing oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. There are two types of crust: oceanic crust, which is denser and mainly basalt, and continental crust, which is thicker and mostly granite
  • Mantle : Beneath the crust lies the mantle, a thick layer (up to 2900 km) of hot, dense rock rich in iron and magnesium. The mantle is mostly solid but behaves plastically over long periods, allowing tectonic plate movement. It contains minerals like olivine
  • Core : The core is divided into an outer and inner core. It is primarily made of iron and nickel, with smaller amounts of sulfur and other elements. The inner core is solid, while the outer core is liquid. The core is extremely hot, with temperatures comparable to the surface of the sun

Chemically, Earth’s mass consists mostly of iron (~32%), oxygen (~30%), silicon (~15%), and magnesium (~14%), with smaller amounts of sulfur, nickel, calcium, and aluminum

. Above the crust is the atmosphere, mainly nitrogen and oxygen, and Earth’s surface is largely covered by water, giving Earth its nickname, the "blue planet"

. In summary, Earth is made of a metallic core (iron and nickel), a silicate- rich mantle, and a rocky crust composed mostly of silicate minerals and oxides of various elements

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