The Earth's mantle is primarily solid, but it behaves in a way that is sometimes described as being partially molten or viscous. This means that while the majority of the mantle is solid rock, certain areas can be malleable and can flow slowly over geological timescales. The mantle extends from just beneath the Earth's crust down to the outer core, and its temperatures are high enough to allow for some melting, especially in the upper mantle where convection currents occur. This facilitates the movement of tectonic plates and plays a crucial role in geological processes such as volcanism and mountain building.
is the mantle solid or liquid?
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