Rocks, Soil, and Minerals Notes

INTRODUCTION

•      Earth is a planet on which we live.

•      Our Earth is approximately 4,000 miles from surface to centre.

•      Our Earth is made up of four distinct layers.

•      These layers are:

FOUR DISTINCT LAYERS OF EARTH

Figure 1: Layers of Earth

The Earth’s Crust:

1. The first layer consists of about 10 miles of rock and loose materials.

Figure 2: Earth’s crust

2. What we see as soil and mountains is the only surface of the Earth; which is also called as the crust.

The Earth’s Mantle:

INTRODUCTION TO MINERALS

•      Our Earth’s crust is made up of many elements.

•      There are 90 known elements that exist in the Earth’s crust.

•      These elements combine with one another in a number of natural ways, creating molecules known as minerals.