AGU Planet Earth Committee Report: Part II: Interior and Crust

Abstract

The Earth's mantle, core, and crust comprise 99.98% of its mass. The mantle, making up the bulk of the mass at 70% and composed of higher density rocks (rich in magnesium silicates, plus some iron silicates), extends an average of 15–2900 km deep. The core is the center of the Earth, 2900–6370 km deep, composed mainly of molten iron. The crust is the outermost layer of the solid Earth, composed of lower density rocks (rich in silica and aluminum and calcium silicates) 6–40 km thick.

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