Magma and Volcanism

Describe what happens after a magma is formed

(S11ES-IIc-25)
Formation of Magma
 Special Conditions Required for the
Formation of Magma

 Decompression Melting
 Flux Melting
 Heat Transfer Melting
Places where Magma can Form

 MidOceanic Ridges
 Mantle Plumes
 Subduction Zones
Mid-Oceanic Ridges

 Is an underwater
mountain range,
formed by plate
tectonics.
 Mid-Oceanic Ridges

 the rising magma in mantle convection cell brings

heat to the surface, transferring heat to the
overlying rocks. The transfer of heat due to
convection is accompanied by a decrease in
pressure or "decompression" associated with the
spreading of the lithospheric plates.
Mantle Plumes (Hot Spots)

 Area in the mantle

from which heat rises
as a thermal plume
from deep in the earth.
 Mantle Plumes (Hot Spots)

 the transfer of heat and decompression result to

magma generation. The source of heat for mantle
plumes is much deeper.
Subduction Zones

 Convergent boundaries of
tectonic plates where one
plate moves under
another and is forced to
sink due to gravity in the
mantle.
 Subduction Zones

 The presence of water during generation results

to the formation of hydrous minerals. As the
oceanic slab is down-thrusted along subduction
zones, the change in temperature and pressure
conditions brings about mineral instability (e.g.
hydrous minerals) and the release of water to the
surrounding hot rocks.
What happens after Magma
is formed?
Density contrast

 Magma is less dense than the surrounding country

rock. Magma rises faster when the difference in
density between the magma and the surrounding
rock is greater.
Two processes as magma rises up:

 ejected out to the surface

through volcanoes
 Solidifies within the
shallower levels.
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, minerals crystallized by the melt,
solid rocks incorporated into the melt from the
surrounding confines, and dissolved gases.
Viscosity

 It is a measure of a fluid’s resistance to

flow.
FACTOR EFFECT TO VISCOSITY
↑ temperature ↓ viscosity
↑ Silica content (SiO2) ↑ viscosity
↑ dissolved water (H2O) ↓ viscosity
Magmatic Differentiation
 Crystal Fractionation

 chemical process by which the composition

of a liquid, such as magma, changes due to
crystallization
Magma
Chamber

Crystal
Settling
 Partial Melting

 Occurs
when only a portion of a solid is
melted.
 Magma Mixing

 This may occur when two different magma rises

up, with the more buoyant mass overtakes the
more slowly rising body. Convective flow then
mixes the two magmas, generating a single,
intermediate (between the two parent magmas)
magma.
Assimilation/contamination of magma
by crustal rocks
 a reaction that occurs when the crust is mixed up with the
rising magma. As magma rises to the surface, the
surrounding rocks which it comes in contact with may get
dissolved (due to the heat) and get mixed with the
magma.