Introduction to Plate Tectonics

Vocabulary flashcards covering the compositional and mechanical layers of the Earth from the Introduction to Plate Tectonics lecture notes.

Crust

The outermost solid layer of the Earth.

Continental Crust

The thicker, less dense type of crust that is composed mostly of granitic rock.

Oceanic Crust

The thinner, denser type of crust that is composed mostly of basaltic rock.

Mantle

The thickest layer of the Earth, composed of semi-solid rock that flows slowly (plasticity).

Outer Core

A layer composed of liquid iron and nickel whose movement generates Earth's magnetic field.

Inner Core

A layer of solid iron and nickel that remains solid due to immense pressure despite extreme heat.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer mechanical layer consisting of the crust and the uppermost solid mantle, which makes up the tectonic plates.

Asthenosphere

The partially melted, flowing layer of the mantle directly beneath the lithosphere upon which tectonic plates float and move.