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Definition. Decompression melting is the process in which magma forms when the pressure on hot mantle rocks decreases, allowing them to partially melt. This phenomenon typically occurs in tectonic settings such as mid-ocean ridges and rift zones, where the tectonic plates are diverging.
Definition. Decompression melting is the process by which magma forms when the pressure on hot, solid mantle rocks is reduced, allowing them to melt. This typically occurs at divergent plate boundaries or hotspot locations, where tectonic forces create a decrease in pressure, leading to the formation of magma that can rise to the Earth's surface.
There are three principal ways rock behavior crosses to the right of the green solidus line to create molten magma: 1) decompression melting caused by lowering the pressure, 2) flux melting caused by adding volatiles (see more below), and 3) heat-induced melting caused by increasing the temperature.
24 kwi 2024 · 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.k.a., hot spot), or in the upwelling part of a mantle convection cell. [1]
Definition. Decompression melting occurs when the pressure on a rock is reduced, leading to the melting of the rock even at constant temperature. This process is significant in geological settings where tectonic plates diverge or move apart, allowing the mantle rock to rise and undergo a decrease in pressure, resulting in the formation of magma.
Melting triggered by a reduction in pressure is called decompression melting. Figure 4.4 Melting triggers. Left- Decompression melting occurs when rock rises or the overlying crust thins. Right- Flux-induced melting occurs when volatile compounds such as water are added. Source: Karla Panchuk (2018) CC BY 4.0.
The most significant of these are decompression melting that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, and flux melting that occurs at subduction zones. Magmas are naturally buoyant, and a race to the surface determines if rising magmas will erupt or if they will crystallize at depth.
