What is the Earth made of?

At its core, Earth is composed of a mix of elements, minerals, and layered materials that vary from the surface to the center.

If you look at the chemical composition, most of the Earth is made up of just a few key elements:

• Iron (Fe) - dominant in the core
• Oxygen (O) - the most abundant element in the crust
• Silicon (Si) - combines with oxygen to form rocks
• Magnesium (Mg) - common in mantle rocks

Together, these elements form minerals like silicates, which make up the majority of Earth’s crust and mantle.

From a structural point of view:

• The crust is rich in lighter elements like oxygen and silicon
• The mantle contains heavier silicate minerals
• The core is primarily metallic, made of iron and nickel

Another way to understand Earth’s composition is through states of matter:

• Solid (crust and inner core)
• Semi-solid (mantle)
• Liquid (outer core)

Practical understanding: This layered and elemental composition is the reason behind earthquakes, volcanic activity, and even Earth’s magnetic field.