<p>No, but, in parts, yes.</p>
<p>The bulk density of the Earth remains unchanged but there have been density changes in parts of it's structure as a result of geological processes:</p>
<p>As material is erupted onto the surface the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_mantle" rel="nofollow noreferrer">mantle</a> and in particular the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthenosphere" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Asthenosphere</a> grows denser as it's chemistry is steadily stripped of lower density rock forming elements (in particular Carbon and the light <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkali_metal" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Alkali</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_earth_metal" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Alkaline Earth</a> metals. As more lighter rock material is ejected from the mantle the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crust_(geology)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Crust</a> lowers in average density while also increasing in total mass and volume. These are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_time_scale" rel="nofollow noreferrer">geologic</a> processes and slow ones even on that timescale now, most of the differentiation happened as the crust formed at the end of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadean" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hadean</a>. So it's not something that's particulars visible over even millions of years but when you compare <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiolite" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ophiolites</a> of vastly different ages you do see changes in chemistry and density over billions of years.</p>
<p>A similar process is thought to be under way at great depths within the planet's core as well. Earth is still slowly cooling and, it is thought, as it does so the solid <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_inner_core" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Inner Core</a> slowly (~1mm in diameter per year) grows through deposition of Nickel-Iron from the liquid <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_outer_core" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Outer Core</a>. This removes Iron and Nickel (and probably other heavy elements) from the molten outer core and slowly decreases it's density as it's chemistry is relatively enriched in lighter elements.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-31T06:48:34.667Z
Thank you for providing the insights!
Pustam Raut
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-31T00:19:10.837Z
2024-05-31T02:47:09.093Z
2024-05-31T02:47:09.093Z
Ash
<p>The Earth has witnessed various geological processes, such as tectonic activities, sedimentation, etc, over millions of years. The accumulation of meteorites and compression of materials due to gravitational forces have also occurred. So, I think the density of the Earth must have also increased. Any insights on this? What are some major factors that have contributed to the change in the overall density of Earth?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-30T16:05:38.993Z
My guess is, if anything,  it has gotten less dense, by an almost undetectably small amount.  Meteorite materials are, on average, less dense than the post-Theia Earth.
Spencer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-23T12:06:46.967Z
@spencer the earth is also cooling though
Harrychink
<geology><earth-history><structural-geology>
Is the Earth currently denser than it was millions of years ago?
Pustam Raut
# Is the Earth currently denser than it was millions of years ago?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-05-30)

The Earth has witnessed various geological processes, such as tectonic activities, sedimentation, etc, over millions of years. The accumulation of meteorites and compression of materials due to gravitational forces have also occurred. So, I think the density of the Earth must have also increased. Any insights on this? What are some major factors that have contributed to the change in the overall density of Earth?

**Tags:** geology, earth-history, structural-geology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: My guess is, if anything,  it has gotten less dense, by an almost undetectably small amount.  Meteorite materials are, on average, less dense than the post-Theia Earth.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 the earth is also cooling though  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2024-05-31. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

No, but, in parts, yes.

The bulk density of the Earth remains unchanged but there have been density changes in parts of it's structure as a result of geological processes:

As material is erupted onto the surface the [mantle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_mantle) and in particular the [Asthenosphere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthenosphere) grows denser as it's chemistry is steadily stripped of lower density rock forming elements (in particular Carbon and the light [Alkali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkali_metal) and [Alkaline Earth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_earth_metal) metals. As more lighter rock material is ejected from the mantle the [Crust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crust_(geology)) lowers in average density while also increasing in total mass and volume. These are [geologic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_time_scale) processes and slow ones even on that timescale now, most of the differentiation happened as the crust formed at the end of the [Hadean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadean). So it's not something that's particulars visible over even millions of years but when you compare [ophiolites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiolite) of vastly different ages you do see changes in chemistry and density over billions of years.

A similar process is thought to be under way at great depths within the planet's core as well. Earth is still slowly cooling and, it is thought, as it does so the solid [Inner Core](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_inner_core) slowly (~1mm in diameter per year) grows through deposition of Nickel-Iron from the liquid [Outer Core](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_outer_core). This removes Iron and Nickel (and probably other heavy elements) from the molten outer core and slowly decreases it's density as it's chemistry is relatively enriched in lighter elements.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for providing the insights!  

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