The Structure of the Earth and
Plate Tectonics
Structure of the Earth
Mantle
• The Earth is
made up of 3 Outer core
main layers: Inner core
– Core
– Mantle
– Crust
Crust
The Crust
• This is where we live!
• Made up of variety of solid rocks like sedimentary,
metamorphic and igneous.
• Average density of 2.8 g/cm3 and thickness ranges
from 5 to 50 km
The Crust
• The Earth’s crust is made of:
Continental Crust Oceanic Crust
- thick (10-70km) - thin (~7 km)
- buoyant (less dense - dense (sinks under
than oceanic crust) continental crust)
- mostly old - young
How do we know what the
Earth is made of?
• Geophysical surveys: seismic, gravity, magnetics,
electrical, geodesy
– Acquisition: land, air, sea and satellite
– Geological surveys: fieldwork, boreholes, mines
What is Plate
Tectonics?
• If you look at a map of the world, you may notice that some of
the continents could fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
Plate Tectonics
• The Earth’s crust is divided into 12 major plates
(large pieces of Earth) which are moved in various
directions.
• This plate motion causes them to collide, pull
apart, or scrape against each other.
• Each type of interaction causes a characteristic
set of Earth structures or “tectonic” features like
mountain ranges, volcanoes and (or) rift
valleys.
• The word, tectonic, refers to the deformation of
the crust as a consequence of plate interaction.
World Plates
What are tectonic plates made of?
• Plates are
made of rigid
lithosphere.
The
lithosphere is
made up of the
crust and the
upper part of
the mantle.
What lies beneath the tectonic plates?
• Below the
lithosphere
(which makes
up the tectonic
plates) is the
asthenosphere.
• It is a geological theory that states that the pieces of
Earth’s lithosphere are in constant, slow motion ,
driven by convection currents in the mantle
Plate Tectonic Theory
What are the
scientific basis for
dividing the
lithospheric plates ?
The basis of scientists in
dividing Earth’s lithosphere
are Geologic Activities
• Seismicity (occurrence of
earthquake)
• Volcanism
• Mountain formation
Plate Movement
• “Plates” of lithosphere are moved around by
the underlying hot mantle convection cells
Why do
more
volcanoes
form along
the
boundaries
of the
Pacific
Plate?
Lithosphere is made up of
several plates on which the
continents and ocean floor
rest. These tectonic plates
may move away, toward, or
past one another.
Plate Boundaries
Plate are the
edges where two plates meet.
boundaries
Most geologic activities, including
volcanoes, earthquakes, and
mountain building, take place at
plate boundaries.
What happens at
tectonic plate
boundaries?
Three types of plate boundary
• Divergent
• Convergent
• Transform
