The Earth's mantle is primarily made up of silicate rocks formed from a combination of elements bound together as oxides.
Composition of the Mantle
The mantle is a significant layer of the Earth, situated between the crust and the core. Its composition, detailed in the reference, is predominantly made of the following elements:
- Oxygen (O): 44.8%
- Silicon (Si): 21.5%
- Magnesium (Mg): 22.8%
Besides these primary elements, the mantle also contains notable amounts of:
- Iron (Fe)
- Aluminum (Al)
- Calcium (Ca)
- Sodium (Na)
- Potassium (K)
These elements are chemically combined to form the silicate minerals that constitute the mantle.
Form of Mantle Materials
The reference notes that all the elements in the mantle are combined in the form of silicate rocks, which are all essentially oxides. This means they have combined with oxygen.
Examples of Mantle Materials
While the reference does not explicitly list the names of individual rocks, the mineral families that compose the mantle are:
- Olivine: A magnesium iron silicate.
- Pyroxene: A group of silicate minerals with variable compositions including calcium, magnesium, and iron.
- Garnet: Another group of silicate minerals that are common in metamorphic and igneous rocks.
Summary
In conclusion, the mantle is made up of a complex mix of elements, primarily oxygen, silicon, and magnesium, along with iron, aluminum, calcium, sodium, and potassium, all bound together in the form of silicate rocks, specifically oxides.
