THE TYPES OF THE EARTH'S CRUST

Abstract

For the comprehensive mapping of the deep structure of the earth's crust a determination of the general types of the crust based on its most essential structural parameters is attempted. Three parameters are considered as most informative, and are accepted as basic for this purpose: thickness of the earth's crust, thickness of the sedimentary layer, and average velocities of compressional waves in the consolidated parts of the crust. Six types of the crust are recognized. A more detailed division of the crust into sub-types has also been worked out.