UNIT

6The Earth’s structure

Natural Science 2. Secondary Education

THE LAYERS OF THE GEOSPHERE

UNIT

6The layers of the geosphere

Crust

Mantle

Core

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Natural Science 2. Secondary Education

• This is the outer layer of the geosphere.

• It is very thin compared with the mantle and core.

• It is made up of hard, solid rocks.

• There are two zones:

The crust

The continental crust: this forms the continents and the continental platforms.

The oceanic crust: this is found on the ocean floor. It is thinner and denser than the continental crust.

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UNIT

6The layers of the geosphere

Natural Science 2. Secondary Education

• This is the middle layer of the geosphere; it is also the thickest.

• It is made up of denser rocks than those of the crust. Most of them are solid.

• The rocks in the upper part are hard, but most of the rocks of the mantle are relatively soft (malleable), and in some zones they can be molten.

The mantle

Mantle

Hard mantle

Soft mantle

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UNIT

6

Natural Science 2. Secondary Education

The layers of the geosphere

• This is the innermost layer of the Earth. It is also the densest.

• It is made up of metals.

• There are two parts:

• The outer core, which is molten metal.

• The inner core, which is solid.

The core

Core

Outer core

Inner core

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UNIT

6The layers of the geosphere

Natural Science 2. Secondary Education