The Earth is divided into two parts; the lithosphere (the outer layer) and the asthenosphere. Their differences are depicted in their physical and in the motion of their plates.
| Lithosphere (Plate margins) | Asthenosphere (plate interiors) |
|---|---|
| Forms the outer layer | |
| Composed of crust and mantle | Composed of melted rocks |
| The rigid outer shell which is cooler and more rigid. | Hotter and flows more easily |
| Mechanical properties; lithosphere losses heat by conduction while the asthenosphere transfers heat by convection. | |
| Tectonic plates. Consists of continental crust or oceanic crust. The lithosphere mantle is overlain by two types of crustal metals; Oceanic crust (sima-silicon and magnesium) and continental crust (sial-silicon and aluminum). | |
| Oceanic lithosphere has a depth of approximately 100km (63 miles), a property initiated by its age since as time passes, its conductivity cools and become thicker. | |
| Oceanic crust is formed in the mid-ocean ridges and spreads outwards. The thickness measures from 6km to 100km at subduction zones. | |
| Continental lithosphere measures typically 200km, though it varies between mountain ranges, basins, and the stable cratonic interiors of the continents. In crust thickness, continental crust measures 35km while oceanic crust measures 6km. | |
| The resultant landscapes are commonly associated with geological events such as earthquakes that could lead to the creation of topographical features such as mid-ocean ridges, oceanic trenches, volcanoes, and mountains. | |
| The resultant landscapes are commonly associated with geological events such as earthquakes that could lead to the creation of topographical features such as mid-ocean ridges, oceanic trenches, volcanoes, and mountains. | |
| Most active volcanoes occur along plate boundaries (where two plates meet). | |
| Oceanic crust is formed at sea-floor spreading centres, while continental crust is formed through arc volcanism and accretion of terranes through tectonic processes (pieces of oceanic crust). | |
| Oceanic crust is denser in weight compared to continental crust. | |
| Oceanic crust lies below sea level, an example of the Pacific Rim while the continental crust an example of the West Coast of Australia that projects above sea level. |