EARTH’S INTERNAL

STRUCTURE
The interior structure of the
Earth is layered in spherical
shells: an outer silicate solid
crust, a highly viscous
asthenosphere and mantle ,
a liquid outer core that is
much less viscous than the
mantle, and a solid inner
core.
EARTH’SYour
INTERNAL STRUCTURE
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• 5–70 kilometers

a. Oceanic crust
• thin part and composed of dense iron,
magnesium, silicate igneous rocks, like basalt
b. Continental crust
• thicker crust, which is less dense and
composed
of sodium potassium aluminum silicate rocks,
like granite
CRUST Your Logo or Name Here
Earth’s internal structure 3
There is a discontinuity in the seismic velocity, zone that
separates the Earth’s crust from the asthenosphere
(upper part of the mantle) which is most commonly
known as the Mohorovicic discontinuity or Moho.

Moho
Asthenosphere

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Earth’s internal structure 4
a. Lithosphere
The uppermost mantle together with the crust constitutes
the lithosphere. 100km thick that comprises the Earth’s crust and
the solid part of the upper mantle; it is divided into tectonic plates.

b. Asthenosphere
Layer of the upper mantle with a thickness of 80km; it is
composed of molten rock, where rocks are kept in a semi-molten
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Earth’s internal structure 5
 Earth’s mantle extends to a
depth of 2 890 km, making it
the thickest layer of Earth.

• composed of silicate rocks

that are rich in iron and
magnesium relative to the
overlying crust.
• The upper and lower mantle
are separated by
the transition zone.

MANTLE Your Logo or Name Here

Earth’s internal structure 6
a. Upper mantle is liquid rock, and very hot. It
moves large areas of crust called tectonic
plates, very slowly.
• The temperature of the mantle near the crust
ranges from 900 to 1 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
• it is made up of the asthenosphere and the
base of the lithosphere

b. The lower mantle is the liquid portion of the

mantle. It is large and takes up most of the
volume of the Earth.
• 7 000 degrees Fahrenheit at the bottom of the
edge, near the core.

MANTLE Your Logo or Name Here

Earth’s internal structure 7
In 1913, a scientist named Beno Gutenberg
contributed to the scientific community with a
discovery regarding to the inner layers of the
Earth.

Gutenberg
Discontinuity
• Zone separating the
lower mantle from the
core; it is located at a
depth of about 1 800 mi.

DISCONTINUITY Your Logo or Name Here

Earth’s internal structure 8
The liquid outer core surrounds the inner core and is
believed to be composed of iron mixed with nickel and
trace amounts of lighter elements.

• 2,400 km (1 500 mi) thick.

CORE Your Logo or Name Here

Earth’s internal structure 9
Lehmann theorized that Earth’s center consisted of two parts: a solid inner
core surrounded by a liquid outer core, separated by what has come to be
called the Lehmann Discontinuity. It is confirmed in 1970 when more
sensitive seismographs detected waves deflecting off this solid core.

DISCONTINUITY
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Earth’s internal structure 10
The inner core was discovered in 1936 by Inge Lehmann and is
generally believed to be composed primarily of iron and nickel some
light elements (e.g., oxygen, sulfur, silicon).
Which is solid despite of the temperature (3 700 degree
Celsius) because of the intense pressure.

CORE Your Logo or Name Here

Earth’s internal structure 11