Gemological Institute Of America (GIA) Graduate Diamonds Practice Exam

Which term describes the earth's surface and outermost layer?

Crust Core Cratons Eruption

Correct Answer:

Crust

Explanation:

Earth has distinct layers, and the term for the outermost solid shell that forms the surface you walk on is the crust. This layer sits above the mantle and comes in two main types: continental crust, which is thicker and lighter in composition, and oceanic crust, which is thinner and more mafic. The crust is literally the surface and the outermost layer of the planet’s solid structure. The core refers to the center of Earth, cratons are ancient, stable parts of the crust and upper mantle, and an eruption is a volcanic event, not a layer of the planet.

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