Lithosphere consists of

The lithosphere is the rigid, outermost mechanical layer of the Earth. It is defined by its physical properties, specifically its strength and rigidity, which distinguish it from the more ductile and semi-molten asthenosphere below [1][2][3]. Structurally, the lithosphere consists of the entire crust (both continental and oceanic) and the uppermost solid portion of the mantle [1]. Its thickness varies significantly, ranging from approximately 10 km at mid-ocean ridges to over 200 km beneath stable continental interiors [1][2]. Because it behaves as a brittle solid, the lithosphere is broken into several tectonic plates that move over the weaker asthenosphere [2]. This mechanical division differs from the chemical classification of Earth's layers, which simply categorizes the interior into the crust, mantle, and core [3].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Interior of the Earth > The Mantle > p. 23
2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 1: BASIC CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY > Lithosphere > p. 10
3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 4: Earths Interior > 4.1. The Internal Structure of The Earth > p. 52