unit4- earth science（unit4 -地球科学）.docVIP

Unit 4 - Earth Science Chapters 12 and 13 in your text book. We will not be following the text exactly. /subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/index.shtml Unit 4.1.1 – Layers of the Earth The Layers of the Earth 1. The Crust – the outer layer, 10km – 70km thick, composed of silicon and oxygen 2. The Mantle – underneath the crust – 2900km thick, most dense because it consists of iron and magnesium The upper mantle and crust – collectively called the lithosphere ~ 100 km thick Plastic like layer below the lithosphere is the asthenosphere Plates “float” on the asthenosphere – this layer is similar to melted tar. Outer core – 2100 km thick, composed of molten iron and nickel Inner core – solid ball of iron and nickel, radius is 1300km There are 12 major plates and several smaller plates that make up the earth surface. /subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Inside.shtml /learn/plate1.htm Rocks and structures There are 3 main groups of rocks Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic Igneous were once hot liquids inside the earth crust. Magma – is molten rock Lava – magma that flows out of the earth to the surface Ash – lava that is blown out of a volcano Volcanic Rocks Ex; basalt, obsidian, and pumice Plutonic rocks magma that has cooled beneath the surface ex; Granite Sedimentary Consists of rock fragments (sand, mud, gravel) that has been cemented together Weathering – physical or chemical breakdown by wind, water or ice Sediment – fragments that are transported by rivers or streams that settle on the sea floor in layers mudstone from mud shale from clay sandstone from sand conglomerate from gravel Fossils – plant or animal remain that have been buried Limestone – from fossil fragment Metamorphic Igneous or metamorphic rocks that have been changed by heat and pressure Ex; mudstone or shale into slate Ex; limestone into marble Quick Check 1. All of the layers of the earth are made up of solid rock True False 2.