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Lithosphere identification and geology

The rigid outer shell of the Earth, comprising the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle above the asthenosphere. The lithosphere is approximately 70–100 km thick beneath oceans and 100–250 km thick beneath continents. It is divided into tectonic plates that move relative to one another on the partially molten asthenosphere. Lithospheric thickness and composition control many aspects of surface geology. Field: structural geology. Example: The cold, thick lithospheric root beneath the Canadian Shield extends to approximately 200–250 km depth and is responsible for the craton's long-term stability and resistance to deformation.. Related terms: Asthenosphere, Tectonic plate, Crust, Mantle.

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Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.027557+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Lithosphere mean in geology?
The rigid outer shell of the Earth, comprising the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle above the asthenosphere. The lithosphere is approximately 70–100 km thick beneath oceans and 100–250 km thick beneath continents. It is divided into tectonic plates that move relative to one another on the partially molten asthenosphere. Lithospheric thickness and composition control many aspects of surface geology.
What is an example of Lithosphere?
The cold, thick lithospheric root beneath the Canadian Shield extends to approximately 200–250 km depth and is responsible for the craton's long-term stability and resistance to deformation.
Which earth-science field uses the term Lithosphere?
Lithosphere is used in structural geology.
Which terms are related to Lithosphere?
Related terms in this reference are Asthenosphere, Tectonic plate, Crust, Mantle.

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