magma
Sign in to savethumb|350x350px|Magma can be found in the mantle or the crust. Magma () is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma (sometimes colloquially but incorrectly referred to as lava) is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also been discovered on other terrestrial planets and some natural satellites. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and gas bubbles.
AI overview
Magma is hot, molten or semi-molten rock found beneath Earth's surface that forms all igneous rocks and can contain suspended crystals and gas bubbles. It matters because it is the fundamental material responsible for creating igneous rocks and is evidence of geological activity both on Earth and on other planets and moons.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
25 sectionsContents
- Physical and chemical properties
- Composition
- Felsic magmas
- Intermediate magmas
- Mafic magmas
- Ultramafic magmas
- Alkaline magmas
- Non-silicate magmas
- Magmatic gases
- Rheology
- Temperature
- Density
- Origins
- Decompression
- Effects of water and carbon dioxide
- Temperature increase
- The melting process
- Evolution of magmas
- Primary magmas
- Parental magma
- Migration and solidification
- Plutonism
- Volcanism
- Use in energy production
- References
thumb|350x350px|Magma can be found in the mantle or the crust. Magma () is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma (sometimes colloquially but incorrectly referred to as lava) is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also been discovered on other terrestrial planets and some natural satellites. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and gas bubbles.
Magma is produced by melting of the mantle or the crust in various tectonic settings, which on Earth include subduction zones, continental rift zones, mid-ocean ridges and hotspots. Mantle and crustal melts migrate upwards through the crust where they are thought to be stored in magma chambers or trans-crustal crystal-rich mush zones. During magma's storage in the crust, its composition may be modified by fractional crystallization, contamination with crustal melts, magma mixing, and degassing. Following its ascent through the crust, magma may feed a volcano and be extruded as lava, or it may solidify underground to form an intrusion, such as a dike, a sill, a laccolith, a pluton, or a batholith.