The Earth's mantle, lying between the crust and the outer core, is primarily characterized by its significant mass, volume, and thickness, as well as its composition of silicate rock.
Mantle Characteristics
The Earth's mantle possesses several distinct characteristics:
- Location: Situated between the Earth's crust and the outer core.
- Composition: Primarily composed of silicate rocks.
- Mass: Accounts for approximately 67% of the Earth's total mass, totaling 4.01×1024 kg (8.84×1024 lb).
- Volume: Makes up about 84% of the Earth's total volume.
- Thickness: Extends to a depth of roughly 2,900 kilometers (1,800 mi), comprising around 46% of Earth's radius.
- Physical State: While mostly solid, it exhibits plasticity over geological timescales, allowing for convection currents. This means the mantle material behaves like a very viscous fluid.
In summary, the mantle is a massive, thick, and voluminous layer composed of silicate rocks, lying between the Earth's crust and outer core, and characterized by its ability to flow over long periods.
