CBSE Class 7 Geography Notes Chapter 2 - Inside our Earth

Inside our Earth, Chapter 2 of Class 7, Geography, covers topics such as the Interior of the Earth, Rocks and Minerals, Types of Rocks, Types of Minerals, etc. For students, it is essential to know the facts about the planet in which we live. Each topic is explained beautifully with proper illustrative examples. Students can also refer to CBSE Class 7 Geography notes of Chapter 2 – Inside our Earth if they find it difficult to understand any concept. These notes are best when students want to revise the important concepts of the chapter quickly.

CBSE Notes Class 7 Geography Chapter 2 – Inside Our Earth PDF

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Interior of the Earth

The Earth is made up of several concentric layers with one inside another. The uppermost layer over the earth’s surface is called the crust. It is the thinnest of all the layers. It is about 35 km on the continental masses and only 5 km on the ocean floors. The main mineral constituents of the continental mass are silica and alumina. It is thus called sial (si-silica and al-alumina). The oceanic crust mainly consists of silica and magnesium; it is therefore called sima (si-silica and ma-magnesium).

The mantle is just beneath the crust, which extends up to a depth of 2900 km below the crust. The innermost layer is the core, with a radius of about 3500 km. It is mainly made up of nickel and iron and is called nife (ni – nickel and fe – ferrous, i.e. iron). The central core has a very high temperature and pressure.

Rocks and Minerals

The earth’s crust is made up of various types of rocks.

Rock – Any natural mass of mineral matter that makes up the earth’s crust is called a rock. It can be of different colours, sizes and textures. There are three major types of rocks:

Igneous rocks – When the molten magma cools, it becomes solid. Rocks thus formed are called igneous rocks or primary rocks. There are two types of igneous rocks: intrusive rocks and extrusive rocks.

Watch this video to learn more about Igneous Rocks

Extrusive igneous rocks – When molten lava comes onto the earth’s surface, it rapidly cools down and becomes solid. Rocks formed in such a way on the crust are called extrusive igneous rocks. For example, basalt. The Deccan plateau is made up of basalt rocks.

Intrusive igneous rocks – Sometimes, the molten magma cools down deep inside the earth’s crust. Solid rocks so formed are called intrusive igneous rocks. Granite is an example of such a rock. Grinding stones used to prepare paste/powder of spices and grains are made of granite.

Sedimentary Rocks – Rocks roll down, crack, and hit each other and are broken down into small fragments called sediments. These sediments are transported and deposited by wind, water, etc. These loose sediments are compressed and hardened to form layers of rocks. These types of rocks are called sedimentary rocks. For example, sandstone is made from grains of sand.

Igneous and sedimentary rocks can change into metamorphic rocks under great heat and pressure. For example, clay changes into slate and limestone into marble.

Rock cycle: The process of transformation of the rock from one to another is known as the rock cycle.

When the igneous and sedimentary rocks are subjected to heat and pressure, they change into metamorphic rocks. The metamorphic rocks, which are still under great heat and pressure, melt down to form molten magma. This molten magma again can cool down and solidify into igneous rocks.

Rocks are made up of different minerals. Minerals are naturally occurring substances which have certain physical properties and definite chemical compositions. For example, coal, natural gas and petroleum. They are also used in industries – iron, aluminium, gold, uranium, etc, in medicine, in fertilisers, etc.