The Earth's crust is like the skin of an apple! It's the outermost solid layer of our planet, a thin shell that surrounds everything else. Think of it as a giant, rocky puzzle made of different pieces.
Two Types of Crust
There are two main types of crust:
- Oceanic Crust: This is found under the oceans. It's thinner and mostly made of basalt, a dark-colored volcanic rock formed from lava.
- Continental Crust: This is the crust that forms the continents, the land we live on. It's thicker than oceanic crust and is mostly made of granite, a lighter-colored rock.
Thickness Matters
The Earth's crust isn't the same thickness everywhere.
- It's thinner under the oceans (about 5-10 kilometers thick).
- It's much thicker under the continents (about 30-70 kilometers thick).
What's it Made Of?
The crust is mostly made up of different types of rocks, like basalt and granite. These rocks contain minerals, which are like tiny building blocks. Even though it’s the outermost layer, the crust can get surprisingly hot at its deepest points—up to 752 degrees Fahrenheit (400 degrees Celsius)!
Floating on the Mantle
The crust isn't just sitting still; it's actually floating on a layer below called the mantle. This is a bit like a giant, slow-moving conveyor belt. The movement of these pieces of the crust causes earthquakes and volcanoes.
The Earth's crust is less than 1% of Earth's total volume, but it’s super important because this is where we live, build our homes, and grow our food!
