[Rockhounds] Earth's Core Appears to Be Wrapped in an Ancient, Unexpected Structure

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

The most high-resolution map yet of the underlying geology beneath Earth's
Southern Hemisphere reveals something we previously never knew about: an
ancient ocean floor that may wrap around the core.

This thin but dense layer exists around 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles)
below the surface, according to a study published in April. That depth is
where the molten, metallic outer core meets the rocky mantle above it. This
is the core-mantle boundary
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/core-mantle-boundary>
 (CMB).

"Seismic investigations, such as ours, provide the highest resolution
imaging of the interior structure of our planet, and we are finding that
this structure is vastly more complicated than once thought," said
<https://news.ua.edu/2023/04/beneath-the-earth-ancient-ocean-floor-likely-surrounds-the-core/>
geologist
Samantha Hansen from the University of Alabama when the findings were
announced.

Understanding exactly what's beneath our feet – in as much detail as
possible – is vital for studying everything from volcanic eruptions to the
variations in Earth's magnetic field, which protects us from the solar
radiation in space.

https://www.sciencealert.com/earths-core-appears-to-be-wrapped-in-an-ancient-unexpected-structure