The Earth's mantle is located between the core and the crust.
The notion of mantle comes from the Latin word mantum . Among its various uses, in this case we are interested in its meaning as the layer that covers something or that is deployed on a surface .
The adjective terrestrial , on the other hand, has its etymological origin in the Latin terrestris . The term allows reference to that linked to the planet Earth or to the land as opposed to the sea and the air .
The Earth's mantle , in this framework, is the layer that is located between the Earth 's core and the crust . Therefore, it is the intermediate zone that is positioned between the innermost sector and the outermost area of the globe.
Origin and composition of the Earth's mantle
The core of the Earth is the center of the planet: it is composed mainly of iron and nickel, with an internal solid part and an external liquid part. The Earth's crust , for its part, is the outer layer that has a thickness of between 5 and 70 kilometers depending on the region.
Between both sectors, the earth's mantle develops. It emerged about 3.8 billion years ago as part of the planet 's stratification process and is currently divided into an inner mantle (solid) and an outer mantle (viscous).
The Earth's mantle fulfills various functions in the structure of the planet.
Mohorovičić's discontinuity
The Earth's mantle extends between approximately 8 km and 2,900 km deep. It is distinguished from the crust by its mechanical action and its chemical features, associated with a discontinuity of physical characteristics that is called the Mohorovičić discontinuity (after Andrija Mohorovičić , the scientist who detected this particularity).
It can be said that, when this discontinuity begins to be noticed, the transition between the Earth's crust and the mantle begins. In this area, because the density of the materials is higher, the speed of the seismic waves increases.
Main characteristics of the earth's mantle
The Earth's mantle is made up of materials such as oxygen , silicon and magnesium , among others. Substances can appear as solids or in a viscous state due to high pressure .
It is important to indicate that the temperature of the Earth's mantle ranges from 600 ºC to 3500 ºC . Temperatures are higher near the core.
Another interesting fact, noticed by scientists, is that the Earth's mantle causes an upward and downward movement of the surface . The phenomenon, which develops on a very long time scale, affects seismic activity and the formation of chains.
Its function
The Earth's mantle performs essential functions in the structure of the planet. With its presence, it acts as a thermal insulator , so the crust does not reach a very high temperature and also gains stability.
On the other hand, the Earth's mantle promotes the melting of heavy blocks of the crust. In subduction zones, these fragments end up descending into the mantle. Another role that the mantle assumes is the projection of magma due to the separation of tectonic plates, producing more crust.
Due to these issues, the interior structure of the Earth registers periodic modifications, caused by the dynamics of the Earth's mantle itself.