How can magma become differentiated

Save This Word! The process by which chemically different igneous rocks, such as basalt and granite, can form from the same initial magma.

Magmatic differentiation can occur by the chemical reaction between the magma and the first crystals to solidify out of it, or by the physical separation of the first crystals that form from the remaining magma, either through settling to the bottom of a magma chamber or through crustal deformations that cause the remaining magma to be squeezed out to cool in veins and dikes.

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms. Words nearby magmatic differentiation Maglemosean , Maglemosian , maglev , magma , magma chamber , magmatic differentiation , magn- , Magna , Magna Carta , magna cum laude , magna est veritas, et praevalebit. All rights reserved. If instead you took a mixture of wax, plastic, aluminum, and glass and put it into the same warm oven, the wax would soon start to melt, but the plastic, aluminum, and glass would not melt Figure 3.

Again this is partial melting. As you can see from Figure 3. It is most likely that this is a very fine-grained mixture of solid wax and solid plastic, but it could also be some other substance that has formed from the combination of the two. In this example, we partially melted some pretend rock to create some pretend magma. We then separated the magma from the source and allowed it to cool to make a new pretend rock with a composition quite different from the original material it lacks glass and aluminum.

The main differences are that rocks are much more complex than the four-component system we used, and the mineral components of most rocks have more similar melting temperatures, so two or more minerals are likely to melt at the same time to varying degrees. Another important difference is that when rocks melt, the process takes thousands to millions of years, not the 90 minutes it took in the pretend-rock example. Contrary to what one might expect, and contrary to what we did to make our pretend rock, most partial melting of real rock does not involve heating the rock up.

The two main mechanisms through which rocks melt are decompression melting and flux melting. Decompression melting takes place within Earth when a body of rock is held at approximately the same temperature but the pressure is reduced.

This happens because the rock is being moved toward the surface, either at a mantle plume a. If a rock that is hot enough to be close to its melting point is moved toward the surface, the pressure is reduced, and the rock can pass to the liquid side of its melting curve. At this point, partial melting starts to take place.

The process of flux melting is shown in Figure 3. If a rock is close to its melting point and some water a flux that promotes melting is added to the rock, the melting temperature is reduced solid line versus dotted line , and partial melting starts. The partial melting of rock happens in a wide range of situations, most of which are related to plate tectonics. The more important of these are shown in Figure 3.

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The rock cycle is a web of processes that outlines how each of the three major rock types—igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary—form and break down based on the different applications of heat and pressure over time. For example, sedimentary rock shale becomes slate when heat and pressure are added. The more heat and pressure you add, the further the rock metamorphoses until it becomes gneiss.

If it is heated further, the rock will melt completely and reform as an igneous rock. Empower your students to learn about the rock cycle with this collection of resources. According to the United States Geologic Survey, there are approximately 1, potentially active volcanoes worldwide.

Most are located around the Pacific Ocean in what is commonly called the Ring of Fire. A volcano is defined as an opening in the Earth's crust through which lava, ash, and gases erupt. The term also includes the cone-shaped landform built by repeated eruptions over time. Teach your students about volcanoes with this collection of engaging material. The structure of the earth is divided into four major components: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core.

Each layer has a unique chemical composition, physical state, and can impact life on Earth's surface. Movement in the mantle caused by variations in heat from the core, cause the plates to shift, which can cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These natural hazards then change our landscape, and in some cases, threaten lives and property. Learn more about how the earth is constructed with these classroom resources. Igneous rocks are one of three main types of rocks along with sedimentary and metamorphic , and they include both intrusive and extrusive rocks.

Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Article Vocabulary. Friday, October 31, Magma is a molten and semi-molten rock mixture found under the surface of the Earth. This mixture is usually made up of four parts: a hot liquid base, called the melt ; mineral s crystal lized by the melt; solid rock s incorporate d into the melt from the surrounding confine s; and dissolve d gas es.

When magma is eject ed by a volcano or other vent , the material is called lava. Magma that has cooled into a solid is called igneous rock. This heat makes magma a very fluid and dynamic substance, able to create new landform s and engage physical and chemical transform ations in a variety of different environment s.

Earth is divided into three general layers. The core is the superheated center, the mantle is the thick, middle layer, and the crust is the top layer on which we live. Most of the mantle and crust are solid, so the presence of magma is crucial to understanding the geology and morphology of the mantle. Differences in temperature , pressure , and structural formations in the mantle and crust cause magma to form in different ways.

Decompression melting involves the upward movement of Earth's mostly-solid mantle. This hot material rises to an area of lower pressure through the process of convection.

Areas of lower pressure always have a lower melting point than areas of high pressure. This reduction in overlying pressure, or decompression, enables the mantle rock to melt and form magma.

Decompression melting often occurs at divergent boundaries, where tectonic plate s separate. The rift ing movement causes the buoyant magma below to rise and fill the space of lower pressure. The rock then cools into new crust. When located beneath the ocean, these plumes, also known as hot spot s, push magma onto the seafloor.

These volcanic mounds can grow into volcanic island s over millions of years of activity. As the liquid rock solidifies, it loses its heat to the surrounding crust.

Transfer of heat often happens at convergent boundaries, where tectonic plates are crashing together. As the dense r tectonic plate subduct s, or sinks below, or the less-dense tectonic plate, hot rock from below can intrude into the cooler plate above. This process transfers heat and creates magma.