Maankuorissa

Maankuorissa is a Finnish term used in geology to refer to processes, rocks, and phenomena that occur within the Earth's crust. The crust is the outermost solid shell of the planet and differs from the mantle beneath it in composition, thickness, and geologic activity. Continental crust is typically about 30 to 50 kilometers thick, while oceanic crust is thinner, roughly 5 to 10 kilometers. The crust forms the surface on which continents and ocean basins sit and hosts much of the planet’s mineral resources.

The crust comprises a variety of rock types, including granitic, granodioritic, and other felsic rocks in continental regions, and basaltic rocks in oceanic regions. Metamorphic rocks formed under crustal conditions are also common. Mineral composition and rock types influence surface geology, soil formation, and the distribution of ore deposits. The crust participates in the rock cycle through processes such as partial melting, crystallization, magmatic intrusion, metamorphism, and weathering.

Geological processes within maankuorissa include crustal magmatism, earthquakes generated by brittle deformation, and hydrothermal activity that can concentrate minerals into ore deposits. Subduction, collision, and rifting are large-scale tectonic drivers that shape crustal structure over geologic timescales. Scientists study maankuorissa using seismic methods, gravity and magnetic measurements, and rock dating to understand crustal composition, thickness, and history.

In scientific usage, maankuorissa helps distinguish observations tied specifically to the crust from those related to the mantle or core.