Praxis 5005 Practice Question
Earth's diameter is approximately 12,700 kilometers. Which of the following layers is located approximately 6,000 kilometers beneath Earth's surface and is composed primarily of iron and nickel?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The core, located about 6,000 kilometers beneath Earth's surface, is primarily composed of iron and nickel, making it the densest layer of the planet.
The crust, option B, is the outermost layer, averaging only about 30 kilometers thick, far shallower than the core.
Option C, the lithosphere, includes the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle, thus is also much closer to the surface.
The mantle, option D, lies beneath the crust and extends to about 2,900 kilometers deep, but it is not primarily composed of iron and nickel, as it consists mainly of silicate minerals.
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