Partial Melting

Abstract

Partial melting is the transformation of some fraction of the mass of a solid rock into a liquid as a result of decompression, heat input, or addition of a flux. The resulting liquid is called magma and becomes lava if it erupts from a volcano. The understanding that partial, rather than complete, melting is the norm in natural systems is essential to appreciating the geochemical importance of melting in the Earth and planets. During partial melting, the liquid differs from the source rock and from coexisting residual minerals in composition and in physical properties such as density and viscosity.

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