What is the interior structure and composition of the earth and how was it probably developed?
The earth has an outer crust composed of felsic continental material and basalt, both of which result from partial melting of the more mafic rocks in the interior. The bulk of the earth is made up of a mafic mantle rock called peridotite which contains pyroxene and olivine minerals, within which lies a liquid inner core made of iron-nickle alloy. It probably started out as a homogenous, low density protoplanet, which collapsed and heated by bombardment by other bodies, causing melting and segregation of the heavier Fe and Ni elements in the interior. • What is the origin of the continental crust? Continental crust probably originated by partial melting of the mantle rock, which concentrates certain elements and minerals, including Fe, K, Al, Ca, Na. It also fractionated off much of the radioactive materials. • What were the two possible sources of the gases in the atmosphere and the water in the oceans? Igneous processes carry gases and fluids from the mantle to the surfacefor example
