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Geochemistry

Periodic Graphics

Periodic Graphics: The composition of Earth

Chemical educator and Compound Interest blogger Andy Brunning digs into what elements and minerals make up the layers of our planet

by Andy Brunning, special to C&EN
June 9, 2025 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 103, Issue 16
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This graphic describes the elemental and mineral composition of Earth’s different layers and how scientists study them. It discusses the elements found in Earth’s crust, mantle, and core.

Test your knowledge of the composition of Earth with our quiz

To download a pdf of this article, visit cenm.ag/earth-composition.

References used to create this graphic:

American Museum of Natural History. "Inge Lehmann: Discoverer of the Earth’s Inner Core." Earth Inside and Out curriculum collection. Accessed June 11, 2025.

Brown, G. C., and A. E. Mussett. The Inaccessible Earth: An Integrated View to Its Structure and Composition. 2nd ed. Chapman and Hall, 1993. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-011-1516-2.

Drake, Michael J., and Kevin Righter. "Determining the Composition of the Earth." Nature (2002). DOI: 10.1038/416039a.

Hirose, Kei, Bernard Wood, and Lidunka Vočadlo. "Light Elements in the Earth’s Core." Nat. Rev. Earth Enviro. (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s43017-021-00203-6.

 

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