AMITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, NOIDA

CLASS VII (2022-2023)

GEOGRAPHY– INSIDE OUR EARTH
HANDOUT-I

DEFINE:

1) Crust Crust is the earth’s uppermost layer. It is the thinnest of all the layers. It is
about 35km on the continental masses and only 5 km on the ocean floors.
The main mineral constituents of the continental mass are silica and
alumina. It is thus called sial.
The main mineral constituents of the oceanic crust are silica and
magnesium. It is thus called sima.

2) Mantle Mantle is the earth’s layer just below the crust. It extends upto a depth of
2900 km below the crust.

3) Core Core is the earth’s innermost layer. It has a radius of about 3500 km. It is
mainly made up of nickel and iron. It is thus called nife. The central core has
very high temperature and pressure.

4) Rock Rock refers to any natural mass of mineral matter that makes up the earth’s
crust.
Rocks can be of different colour, size and texture.
There are three major types of rocks: igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks
and metamorphic rocks.

5) Fossils The remains of the dead plants and animals trapped in the layers of rocks
are called Fossils.

6) Igneous Rocks Rocks formed upon cooling and solidification of molten magma are called
igneous rocks. These are hard and crystalline in nature.
They are also called primary rocks.
There are two types of igneous rocks: intrusive rocks and extrusive rocks.

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7) Lava Lava is actually fiery red molten magma coming out from the interior of the
earth on its surface.

8) Extrusive When molten lava comes on the earth’s surface, it rapidly cools down and
Igneous becomes solid.
Rocks Rocks formed in such a way on the crust are called extrusive igneous rocks.
They have a very fine-grained structure.
For example - basalt. The Deccan plateau is made up of basalt rocks.

9) Intrusive When molten magma cools down deep inside the earth’s crust, it forms
Igneous intrusive igneous rocks.
Rocks Since they cool down slowly, they form large grains.
For example - Granite. Grinding stones used to prepare paste/powder of
spices and grains are made of granite.

10) Sedimentary Rocks roll down, crack, and hit each other and are broken down into small
Rocks fragments.
These smaller particles are called sediments.
These sediments are transported and deposited by wind, water, etc.
These loose sediments are compressed and hardened to form layers of
rocks.
These types of rocks are called sedimentary rocks.
For example, sandstone is made from grains of sand.
These rocks may also contain fossils of plants, animals and other
microorganisms that once lived on them.

11) Metamorphic When igneous and sedimentary rocks are subjected to extreme heat and
Rocks pressure, they change into metamorphic rocks.
For example, clay changes into slate and limestone into marble.

12) Minerals Minerals are naturally occurring substances which have certain physical
properties and definite chemical composition.

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 13) Rock Cycle One type of rock changes to another under certain conditions in a cyclic
manner.
This process of transformation of the rock from one to another is known as
the rock cycle.
When the molten magma cools, it solidifies to become igneous rock.
These igneous rocks are broken down into small particles that are
transported and deposited to form Sedimentary rocks. When the igneous
and sedimentary rocks are subjected to heat and pressure they change into
Metamorphic Rocks.
The metamorphic rocks which are still under great heat and pressure melt
down to form molten magma.
This again can cool down and form igneous rock.
This cyclic process is called Rock Cycle.

Q1. What are the uses of rocks?

Rocks are useful to us in numerous ways:

1) Hard rocks are used to make roads, houses and buildings. Granite is used in making floors
and kitchen slabs.
2) We use stones in many games.
3) Rocks are made up of minerals which are of crucial importance to humankind.
4) Some are used as fuels and some are used in industries. For example: Coal helps in
generation of electricity.

Q2. Give reasons:

2.1 We cannot go to the centre of the earth.

Since the temperature and pressure increase enormously as we go deeper and deeper inside the
earth, we cannot go to the centre of the earth.

2.2 Sedimentary rocks are formed from sediments.

Due to heavy pressure, sediments get compressed and cemented together to form sedimentary
rocks.

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2.3 Limestone is changed into marble.

When limestone is subjected to extreme heat and pressure, it changes its form and turns into
marble. It is a metamorphic rock.

2.4 Igneous rocks are called primary rocks.

Since all other kinds of rocks are formed from igneous rocks, they are called primary rocks.

Q3. Differentiate between intrusive and extrusive rocks.

INTRUSIVE ROCKS EXTRUSIVE ROCKS

1) When molten magma cools down deep
inside the earth’s crust, it forms intrusive
igneous rocks.
2) Since they cool down slowly, they form
large grains.
3) For example - Granite. Grinding stones
used to prepare paste/powder of spices
and grains are made of granite.
1) When molten lava comes on the earth’s
surface, it rapidly cools down and
becomes solid.
Rocks formed in such a way on the crust
are called extrusive igneous rocks.
2) They have a very fine-grained structure.
3) For example - basalt. The Deccan
plateau is made up of basalt rocks.

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