The elements that make up the most of the Earth's mantle are primarily oxygen, magnesium, and silicon. Specifically, the mantle consists of approximately:
- Oxygen: 44.8%
- Magnesium: 22.8%
- Silicon: 21.5%
Other elements present in smaller amounts include iron, aluminum, calcium, sodium, and potassium. These elements are combined mostly in the form of silicate rocks and oxides. The most common compounds in the mantle are silicon dioxide (SiO2) at about 48% and magnesium oxide (MgO) at about 37.8% by weight. Thus, oxygen is the most abundant element in the mantle, followed by magnesium and silicon.
