Earth's Lithosphere Summary

Earth's Lithosphere

Objectives

  • Describe the Earth’s Lithosphere.

  • Differentiate oceanic and continental crust.

  • Infer that the Earth’s lithosphere is divided into plates.

  • Identify the major lithospheric plates.

Key Terms

  • Lithosphere: Solid earth

  • Atmosphere: Gases (the air)

  • Hydrosphere: All water

  • Biosphere: All life

Lithosphere

  • Includes upper portion of the mantle and crust.

  • Bounded by the atmosphere (above) and asthenosphere.

  • Comprises crust and mantle.

Oceanic Crust vs. Continental Crust

  • Composition:

    • Oceanic Crust (SiMa): Mafic, Basalt rock

    • Continental Crust (SIAL): Felsic, Granitic Rock

  • Density:

    • Oceanic Crust: Denser (200 pounds/cubic feet)

    • Continental Crust: Less dense (162-172 pounds/cubic feet)

  • Age:

    • Oceanic Crust: Renewed (young)

    • Continental Crust: Older rocks

  • Thickness:

    • Oceanic Crust: Thinner, found under the ocean (4-5 miles)

    • Continental Crust: Thicker (25 to 50 miles)

  • Surface Coverage
    -Oceanic Crust: 71%71\% of Earth's surface
    -Continental Crust: 29%29\% of Earth's surface

Key Concepts

  • Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.

  • Oceanic crust usually subducts beneath the continental crust during tectonic plate collisions.

  • Lithosphere comprises the crust and the mantle and is divided into lithospheric plates.

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