THE LITHOSPHERE ( the ball of rocks)

The Earth, its rocks and minerals:

A. Structure of the Earth

1. At the Centre is hot core, temperature is more than 4000 C &
it is 6385 Kms from the earths crust
2. Next layer is molten core or molten rock, which is 5165 Kms
from the earths crust.
3. Third layer is the mantle which is the source of magma that
erupts during Volcano & is 2900 kms
4. Outer most layer is earths crust which ranges from 5kms thick
under the ocean and approx.. 100 kms thick below the mountain
ranges.
5. Crust the outermost layer is the most important layer for people.
6. Crusts is made of different types of rocks & are useful to human
beings in different ways like building stone, minerals, metals
and energy.
7. Some places crust is covered with soil that is useful for
farming.
8. Crust is made up of 7 large tectonic plates and many more small
ones.
9. These plates on earths crust keeps on moving and hence the
crust is unstable at some places.

Types of rocks: There are 3 types of rocks

A. Igneous rocks
1. These rocks are formed by fire.
2. They are new rocks on earths crust.
3. These rock are associated with the volcanic activities & are
formed by the magma from the mantle when rises up towards
the crust and then cools down and are formed around plate
boundaries
4. Examples Granite and basalt.
5. Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be
visible with the unaided eye. It forms from the slow crystallization of
magma below Earth's surface. Granite is composed mainly of quartz and
feldspar with minor amounts of mica, amphiboles, and other minerals.
 6. Basalt is formed from lava that pours out of volcanoes.
B. Sedimentary rocks
1. These rocks are made from sediments.
2. These rocks are second hand rocks in the earths crust because
they are made from old materials.
3. Mostly found in large lowland areas.
4. Examples Sandstone, clay and limestone
5. Sandstones - Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of
sand-size grains of mineral, rock, or organic material. It also
contains a cementing material that binds the sand grains
together and may contain a matrix of silt- or clay-size particles
that occupy the spaces between the sand grains.
6. It is often mined for use as a construction material or as a raw
material used in manufacturing
7. Clay it forms from the accumulation and compression of
deposits of mud.
8. Limestone it is formed from the remains of plants and
animals, masses of shells of sea creatures that accumulate on
the sea bed when they die and build up layers of limestone
rock.
C. Metamorphic rocks
1. They are old igneous rocks and sedimentary rocks which have
been changed by heat and pressure on the earths crust
2. They are associated with old plateau blocks and ancient shields.
3. Example: Marble & Slate
4. Marble Limestone is changed into marble.
5. Slate Clay is changed into slate.