Chapter 2:

Internal Structure
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of the earth
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• Rosina Mali
 Chapter 2

Internal Formation
Plate
structure of the
tectonic
of the earth Himalaya
Internal Structure of the Earth
 The interior structure of the Earth, similar to the outer, is layered.
These layers can be defined by either their chemical or their
rheological properties. The earth has an outer silicate solid crust a
highly viscous mantle a liquid outer core that is much less viscous
than the mantle, and a solid inner core. Scientific understanding of
earth's internal structure is based on observations of topography and
bathymetry, observations of rock in outcrop, samples brought to the
surface from greater depts. by volcanic activity, analysis of the
seismic waves that pass through the Earth, measurements of the
gravity field of the Earth, and experiments with crystalline solids at
pressures and temperatures characteristic of the Earth's deep interior.
 Internal structure of the Earth
 Crust:
 Upper most zone/shell of the earth having the thickness of around 40 km in the continent and around 10 km in
the ocean.
 It is relatively thin layer of solid rock on a liquid interior
 The oceanic crust is made up heavier and dark rocks basalt, whereas the continental crust consists of light
colored and light density granitic rocks.
 Mantle :
 At the base of the crust (somewhere 35-40 km), the different materials from that of crust, nearly from a
homogeneous zone till a depth of 2900 km
 Consisting mostly of basic materials called ultra basic rocks rich in iron and magnesium but poor in silica
 Core:
 It is the innermost structural zone which starts at the depth of 2900 km below the surface and extends right up
to the center of the earth at 6370 km
 The materials do not have shear resistance which gives and idea of nearly liquid material.
 Have very high density above 10 gm/cc at the mantle core boundary.
 Have very high density above 10 gm/cc at the mantle core boundary.
 Structure of the Composition of
Earth
the Earth
The study of the behavior of
seismic waves tells us about the Seismology also tells us
shape and composition of the about the density of
interior of the Earth: rocks:
 Crust: ~10–70 km, thick,  Continental crust:2.8
intermediate composition g/cm3
 Mantle: ~2800 km, thick, mafic  Oceanic crust:~3.2
composition g/cm3
 Outer core: ~2200 km, thick  Asthenosphere:~3.3
liquid iron g/cm3
 Inner core: ~1500 km, thick
solid iron
The layer of the
earth was
determined by the
abnormal
behavior of
seismic wave
Shadow zone
The zone of the earth where is no passage of
seismic wave
 Plate
tectonics
Driving Mechanism of
Plate Tectonics

 Thought to be convection of the

mantle.
 Friction at base of the lithosphereClick to add text
transfers energy from the
asthenosphere to the lithosphere.
 Convection may have overturned
asthenosphere 4–6 times.
 Plate Tectonics
 According to plate tectonics, the earth can be
subdivided inti six large rigid plates and several
smaller ones, the boundary of the plates is fixed by
the foci of the earthquake epicenter. These plate are
not stationery, the movements of these plates have
been generalized into three main categories with
respect to their mutual boundaries
Divergent (Constructive )
Convergent (Destructive)
Transform fault (conservative)
Three Types of Plate Boundaries
Transform Divergent Convergent
The Plates, about 100km thick, consist of crust and the uppermost part of the
mantle and together are called lithosphere. The lithosphere move along a more or
less ductile zone called asthenosphere. As the lithosphere moves a new crust is
generated at the mid –oceanic ridges, and the older crust is partly destroyed at the
trenches. The continental crust , being lighter than the oceanic crust floats and
generally cannot be sub ducted. Sometimes, two continental blocks come close to
each other and collide. The typical example of a collide mountain range is the
Himalayan range, where the Indian subcontinent collide with Eurasian continent
about 40 million years ago. The process of convergences is still continuous and
therefore earthquakes are frequent in this region. The mechanism that drives a
moving plate is not known probably it result from combination of convection
current in the mantle and the forces that act on a plate of lithosphere. The
convective mixing was probably vigorous in the early earth and it resulted in a
less clear distinction between continental and oceanic crust than is the case for
the present day earth.
Assignment
1. Write about the internal structure of the earth with diagram. How the layers
of the earth was determined ?What is the shadow zone ?
2. Write briefly on plate tectonics. What are the plates and plates boundaries?
3. How the Himalayas was formed?
4. Write short notes on – convergent boundaries, Divergent
boundary,Transform fault boundaries
 Himalayas: Continents collide

Millions of years ago India and an ancient ocean

called the Tethys Ocean were sat on a tectonic plate.
This plate was moving northwards towards Asia at a
rate of 10 centimeters per year. The Tethys oceanic
crust was being subducted under the Asian
Continent. The ocean got progressively smaller until
about 55 milion years ago when India 'hit' Asia.
Because both these continental landmasses have
about the same rock density, one plate could not be
subducted under the other. The pressure of the
impinging plates could only be relieved by thrusting
skyward, contorting the collision zone, and forming
the jagged Himalayan peaks
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safe