Usage of Like

true, as far I know. "Like" is never used with clauses in standard English. usage with a noun is the best.
He runs like a gazelle.

Like is a preposition. It should be followed by an object to make a prepositional phrase.
here, in this SC too we are comparing 2 nouns.

The distribution of mass(object) within the core of the Earth, like that (this refers back to distribution)...

underlined makes a prepositional phrase.