UPPSC 2025
DAILY
CLASS NOTES
Geography
Lecture – 05
Internal Structure of Earth
Internal Structure of Earth
Internal Structure of Earth
The Earth's interior is composed of several concentric layers, each with distinct properties and compositions. These
layers include the crust, mantle, and core, which are further subdivided based on physical and chemical
characteristics.
Crust
Earth's outermost layer, the crust, is the thinnest of all the layers and is composed primarily of solid rock.
It can be further divided into two main types:
❖ Continental Crust: Thicker (30-50 km), composed mainly of granitic rocks, less dense.
❖ Oceanic Crust: Thinner (5-10 km), composed mainly of basaltic rocks and, are denser.
Characteristics:
❖ The outermost solid layer of the Earth.
❖ Composed of various rocks and minerals.
❖ Contains the Earth's surface and all life forms.
Mantle
❖ The mantle is located beneath the crust and extends to a depth of approximately 2,900 kilometers.
❖ It is much thicker than the crust and makes up most of the Earth's volume.
❖ The mantle is composed primarily of solid rock, although it may flow slowly over geological time scales, a
phenomenon known as Mantle Convection.
Divisions:
❖ Upper Mantle: Extends from the base of the crust to about 410 km depth.
➢ Lithosphere: The rigid outer part of the Earth, consisting of the crust and uppermost mantle. It is divided
into tectonic plates.
➢ Asthenosphere: The semi-fluid layer below the lithosphere, extending up to about 400 km depth. It
allows the tectonic plates to move.
❖ Lower Mantle: Extends from about 400 km to 2,900 km depth.
Characteristics:
❖ Composed of silicon and magnesium.
❖ The mantle is solid but behaves plastically over long periods, allowing convection currents to occur.
❖ Convection currents in the mantle drive plate tectonics.
Core
Divisions:
❖ Outer Core: Below the mantle is the outer core, which extends to a depth of about 2,900 kilometers to 6,300
kilometers.
❖ The outer core is composed primarily of liquid iron and nickel, and is responsible for generating the Earth's
magnetic field through the convection motion of conductive materials.
➢ Characteristics:
✓ Composed mainly of liquid iron and nickel.
✓ Responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field through the dynamo effect.
❖ Inner Core: At the center of the Earth lies the inner core, which extends from a depth of 5,150 kilometers to
about 6,371 kilometers to the Earth's center.
❖ The inner core is composed primarily of solid iron and nickel, with temperatures reaching 5,700°C
(10,300°F).
➢ Characteristics:
✓ Composed mainly of solid iron and nickel.
✓ Extremely high temperatures and pressures.
Composition and Characteristics of Each Layer:
Crust Mantle Core
Composition: Silicate rocks (granite in Silicate minerals (peridotite, Made of Iron and Nickel
continental crust, basalt in olivine, pyroxene).
oceanic crust).
Density: 2.7-3.0 g/cm³ for continental 3.3-5.7 g/cm³. 9.9-12.2 g/cm³ in the outer
crust, 3.0-3.3 g/cm³ for oceanic core, up to 13 g/cm³ in the
crust. inner core.
Temperature Surface temperature to about 400°C at the top to about 4,000°C to 5,000°C in the
400°C at the base of the crust. 4,000°C at the bottom. outer core, up to 5,700°C in
the inner core.
Note:
The Earth's crust is divided into two distinct types: continental crust and oceanic crust. Each type has unique
characteristics in terms of composition, thickness, and formation.
Continental Crust
Characteristics:
❖ Continental crust is thicker than oceanic crust, averaging about 30-50 kilometers, but it can be up to 70
kilometers thick in mountainous regions.
❖ It is primarily composed of granitic rocks, which are rich in silica and aluminum (felsic composition).
Common minerals include quartz, feldspar, and mica.
❖ The composition of continental crust is more diverse compared to oceanic crust, including sedimentary,
igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
❖ Continental crust is less dense, with an average density of about 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter.
❖ Continental crust is generally older than oceanic crust. Some parts of the continental crust are over 4 billion
years old.
Oceanic Crust
Characteristics:
❖ Oceanic crust is thinner than continental crust, typically about 5-10 kilometers thick.
❖ It is mainly composed of basaltic rocks, which are rich in iron and magnesium (mafic composition). Common
minerals include pyroxene, olivine, and plagioclase feldspar.
❖ Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, with an average density of about 3.0 grams per cubic
centimeter.
❖ Oceanic crust is generally younger than continental crust. The oldest oceanic crust is about 200 million years
old, as it is constantly being recycled through the process of plate tectonics at mid-ocean ridges and
subduction zones.
Comparison Summary
1
UPPSC 2025
Geography DMP–04
Internal Structure of Earth – Practice Questions
1. Differentiate between the continental crust and oceanic crust in terms of composition, density, and
thickness.
(08 Marks, 125 Words)
How to approach the question:
❖ Introduction: Start the answer by writing briefly about the continental crust and oceanic crust of the
Earth in 20 to 30 words.
❖ Body: Outline the differences between the continental crust and oceanic crust in terms of
composition, density, and thickness in 70 to 80 words.
❖ Conclusion: Conclude the answer by summarizing the above points in 20 to 30 words.
Answer:
Introduction:
The Earth's crust is divided into two types: continental and oceanic. These crusts differ significantly in
composition, density, and thickness. Continental crust is primarily composed of granite, is thicker, and less
dense, while oceanic crust is mainly basaltic, thinner, and denser. These differences play a crucial role in
tectonic processes and geological features.
Main Body:
1. Composition
➢ Continental Crust:
✓ The continental crust is primarily composed of granitic rocks.
✓ It is rich in silica (SiO₂) and aluminum (Al), making it felsic in nature.
✓ Common minerals found in continental crust include quartz, feldspar, and mica.
✓ It also contains sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
➢ Oceanic Crust:
✓ The oceanic crust is primarily composed of basaltic rocks.
✓ It is richer in magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe), making it mafic in nature.
✓ Common minerals in oceanic crust include olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase feldspar.
✓ The oceanic crust is more uniform and less complex in composition than the continental crust.
2. Density
➢ Continental Crust:
✓ The density of the continental crust is lower, averaging around 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter
(g/cm³).
✓ This lower density is due to its felsic composition, which contains lighter minerals.
2
➢ Oceanic Crust:
✓ The oceanic crust is denser, with an average density of about 3.0 grams per cubic centimeter
(g/cm³).
✓ The higher density is due to its mafic composition, which includes heavier minerals such as
iron and magnesium-rich silicates.
3. Thickness
➢ Continental Crust:
✓ The continental crust is much thicker, ranging from 20 to 70 kilometers (12 to 43 miles).
✓ The thickness varies significantly, being thicker under mountain ranges and thinner in other
regions.
✓ This variation is due to tectonic processes like crustal folding and faulting, which can add
layers of rocks and increase crustal thickness.
➢ Oceanic Crust:
✓ The oceanic crust is much thinner, typically ranging from 5 to 10 kilometers (3 to 6 miles).
✓ It is relatively uniform in thickness compared to the continental crust.
✓ This thinness is due to its formation at mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates diverge,
allowing molten basalt to cool and solidify rapidly.
Conclusion:
The continental crust is primarily composed of granite, has a lower density (2.7 g/cm³), and is thicker (20-70
km) compared to the oceanic crust, which is mainly basaltic, denser (3.0 g/cm³), and thinner (5-10
km). These differences result in varied tectonic processes. Continental crust is more buoyant, while oceanic
crust is more prone to subduction, influencing geological activities such as earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions.
