Geologic modelling

quasi-periodic aggregation and dispersal of Earth's continental crust

Geothermobarometry is the methodology for estimating the pressure and temperature history of rocks (metamorphic, igneous, or sedimentary). Geothermobarometry is a combination of geobarometry, where the pressure attained (and retained) by a mineral assemblage is estimated, and geothermometry where the temperature attained (and retained) by a mineral assemblage is estimated. thumb|upright=1.35|An illustration of geothermobarometry. A line of temperature equilibrium (orange) and a line of pressure equilibrium (blue) of selected mineral assemblages found in the specimen are plotted on the P-T diag

Pyrolite is a term used to characterize a model composition of the Earth's mantle. This model is based on that a pyrolite source can produce mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) by partial melting. It was first proposed by Ted Ringwood (1962) as being 1 part basalt and 4 parts harzburgite, but later was revised to being 1 part tholeiitic basalt and 3 parts dunite. The term is derived from the mineral names pyroxene and olivine. However, whether pyrolite is entirely representative of the Earth's mantle remains debated.

applied science of creating computerized representations of portions of the Earth's crust