When did the mantle of the earth form

The mantle of the Earth formed very early in the planet's history, shortly after the Earth itself was formed. This process started over 4.5 billion years ago during the Hadean Eon, shortly after the formation of the solar system. Scientists believe the Earth's mantle was formed through a process called differentiation, where heavier elements sank to the center of the Earth to form the core, while lighter elements remained above to form the mantle.

Shortly after the formation of Earth, it was likely a molten ball due to the heat from frequent collisions with other space objects, as well as from the decay of radioactive elements. As the Earth began to cool, materials started to differentiate by density. The densest materials, mainly composed of iron and nickel, sank towards the center, forming the core. Above the core, the less dense materials solidified to create the Earth's mantle, which is primarily composed of silicate minerals.

Due to the continuous heating from the decay of radioactive elements and residual heat from the planet's formation, the mantle has remained dynamic, allowing for the movement of tectonic plates and contributing to the geological activity on the planet's surface ever since.