1. Crust:
* Continental Crust: Thicker, less dense, and older than oceanic crust. Composed mainly of granite, a light-colored igneous rock rich in silica, aluminum, and potassium.
* Oceanic Crust: Thinner, denser, and younger than continental crust. Composed mainly of basalt, a dark-colored igneous rock rich in iron, magnesium, and calcium.
2. Mantle:
* The largest layer of the Earth, extending from the base of the crust to a depth of about 2900 km.
* Composed primarily of silicate minerals, such as olivine and pyroxene.
* Divided into the upper mantle and the lower mantle, with different physical properties and compositions.
3. Core:
* The innermost layer of the Earth, composed mostly of iron and nickel.
* Divided into the outer core and the inner core.
* Outer Core: Liquid and responsible for Earth's magnetic field.
* Inner Core: Solid and extremely dense, subjected to immense pressure.
These compositional differences are responsible for the different properties of the Earth's layers, such as density, viscosity, and seismic wave behavior. The interplay between these layers drives many geological processes, such as plate tectonics and volcanism.
