The Earth and Life Sciences:

Geologic Process that Occur

within the Earth
(Magmatism)
Geologic Process that Occur
within the Earth
Learning Objectives
•Describe how magma is formed (magmatism)
Magma
Magma
• Composed of semi-liquid hot molten rocks
located beneath the Earth; in the melted mantle
rock and oceanic plate.
• Solidified, creates igneous rock found on the
surface of the Earth
• Magma and Lava; both molten rocks, Magma
found in the chamber of the volcano, Lava found
on the surface of the Earth
Magma and Lava
Magma
Magmatism
The process under the earth’s crust where
formation of magma occur.
Happen in the lower part of the Earth’s crust
and in the upper portion of the mantle, known as
asthenosphere
Magma
Magmatism
oAsthenosphere
Magma
How is magma formed?
The magma present in the lower crust and
upper mantle of the Earth is formed or generated
through the process of partial melting
oPartial melting:
Different minerals in rock melt at different
temperature and pressure.
Magma
How is magma formed?
Another factor considered in this process is
the addition of volatile materials such as water
and carbon dioxide
Magma
o Partial Melting
Magma
oMelting
Magma
o Melting
- Requires one of the three possible events to occur
1. An increase in temperature
 Conduction in mantle happens when heat is
transferred from hotter molten rocks to the Earth’s
cold crust
 Process known as heat transfer
 As magma rises, it is often hot enough to melt the
rocks it touches.
Magma
oMelting
1. An increase in temperature
 happens at convergent boundaries, where
tectonic plates are crashing together
Magma
oMelting
1. An increase in temperature
Magma
o Melting
1. An increase in temperature
 Rocks are composed of minerals; start to melt once
the temperature in the lower crust and upper mantle
increases or exceeds the melting point of minerals.
Temperature of mantle reaches 1200 degrees Celsius
Rock minerals such as quartz and feldspar begin to
partially melt at around 650 – 850 oC
Magma
oMelting
2. A decrease of pressure
 Mantle rocks remain solid when exposed to high
pressure
 During convection, these rocks tend to go upward
(shallower level) and the pressure is reduced;
triggering the melting of magma, know as
decompression melting
Magma
oMelting
2. A decrease of pressure
oDecompression melting
Process occurs at the Mid-Ocean Ridge, an
underwater mountain system
Magma
oMelting
2. A decrease of pressure
oDecompression melting
Magma
o Melting
3. Addition of volatiles
 Water or carbon dioxides is added to hot rocks occurs
flux melting
 Melting points of minerals within the rocks decrease.
 If a rock is already close to its melting point, the
effect of adding these volatiles can be enough to
trigger partial melting
Magma
oMelting
3. Addition of volatiles
 It occurs around subduction zones
Magma
Sources:
https://depedtambayan.net/wp-content/uploads/
2021/10/ELS_Q1_Module-7_Magmatism_v2.pdf