Earth's Mantle (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what the Earth's mantle is, its function, subdivisions and other characteristics. Also, how it can be studied.

earth mantle — The Earth's mantle is a layer 2,900 kilometers thick.

What is the earth's mantle?

In geology, the Earth's mantle or mantle It is the middle layer of the internal structure of our planet that is, the one that comprises the largest portion of it, located between the central inner core and the external cortex in which life exists. It is a layer about 2900 kilometers thick, which makes up 84% of the total mass of the Earth.

The mantle extends from 33 kilometers deep, when the so-called Mohorovicic discontinuity ends, to 2900 kilometers, where the core is located.

It is a very non-uniform region, compared to the others of the planet's internal structure, which is divided into two portions: a solid and elastic one, and a liquid and fluid one. The mantle It is where the mechanical displacements of matter occur that are reflected in plate tectonics and seismic movements on the surface.

As we move towards the core of the planet, the Earth's mantle becomes hotter and is subject to greater pressures, so its physical properties and chemical composition will also vary. These temperatures are so high, however, that in some portions of the mantle a subduction cycle of the heaviest materials of the planetary crust takes place, which melt down there and allow a certain exchange of matter and energy.

Characteristics of the earth's mantle

The Earth's mantle is characterized by the following:

It is the largest region of the planetary interior structure covering 84% of the Earth. This layer extends between the few tens of kilometers deep, where the Earth's crust ends, and the core of the planet itself, almost 3000 kilometers deep.
The composition of the mantle is mainly silicates and other minerals lighter (compared to the core). It is estimated that its most abundant elements are oxygen (44.8%), magnesium (22.8%), silicon (21.5%), iron (5.8%), calcium (2.3%). %) and aluminum (2.2%), as well as other minor elements such as sodium and potassium.
The enormous pressures to which the mantle is subjected They maintain their components in a solid or liquid-viscous physical state, and their temperatures range between 600 °C and 3500 °C, as they approach the Earth's core.
The mantle is divided into two portions: upper mantle and lower mantle.

Function of the earth's mantle

The mantle plays some key functions within the earth's structure: such as being a thermal insulator that allows the existence of a cold and stable crust, or that of projecting magma through the separation of tectonic plates to produce new bark.

At the same time, melts heavy portions of crust that descend into the mantle in subduction areas. It can be seen as a very active region with a lot of transformation in the internal structure of the Earth.

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Subdivisions of the Earth's mantle

The Earth's mantle is divided into two regions, which are:

The upper or outer mantle which extends from the end of the Earth's crust to about 255 kilometers deep. It is a mostly solid region, but with very malleable regions that allow tectonic activity. Inside, two different regions are usually identified: the lithosphere, its solid portion; and asthenosphere, its viscous and semi-solid portion.
The lower or inner mantle located below 660 kilometers deep and 2700, is a denser and hotter region than the previous one, mostly solid and much less ductile than the upper layer. Its exact composition is the subject of debate among academics.

Between these two regions there is a transition zone or intermediate zone, which goes from 400 to 600 kilometers deep, where the rocks are subjected to high pressure processes that radically alter their chemical composition, and which largely prevents exchange. of matter between both layers of the mantle.

Exploration of the Earth's mantle

As we have said, exploring the Earth's mantle has been a human ambition since its existence was discovered hundreds of years ago, but it has been a very difficult goal to achieve. Humanity's deepest excavations have not even managed to leave the Earth's crust, so most geological studies are carried out indirectly through the analysis of seismic waves, for example.

However, the possibility of Drilling in underwater regions has allowed attempts to take samples of the earth's mantle.

The most recent of these was carried out in 2007, using a robotic probe in a region of about 4,000 meters in diameter, almost 5,000 meters deep, in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean. There the mantle was more exposed and samples 4cm in diameter and one meter deep could be taken.

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