why is the composition of the crustal layer of earth of great interest
Answers
The crust is the thin, outer layer of the Earth. Oceanic crust underlies the oceans and is made mostly of heavy, dense basalt. Basalt forms from the mantle and is recycled back into the mantle. ... The temperature of the crust increases with depth and reaches maximums between 400 and 750 degrees.
Explanation:
The planet is made up of three main shells: the very thin, brittle crust, the mantle and the core. ... The composition of the crust is quite different from that of the Earth as a whole. Heavy elements are segregated towards the center and lighter elements towards the surface. The internal structure of the Earth is layered in spherical shells: an outer silicate solid crust, a highly viscous asthenosphere and mantle, a liquid outer core that is much less viscous than the mantle, and a solid inner core. ... The force exerted by Earth's gravity can be used to calculate its mass.