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Magma. Magma can be found in the mantle or molten crust. Magma (from Ancient Greek μάγμα (mágma) 'thick unguent ') [ 1] is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. [ 2]
Magma chamber. A magma chamber is a large pool of liquid rock beneath the surface of the Earth. The molten rock, or magma, in such a chamber is less dense than the surrounding country rock, which produces buoyant forces on the magma that tend to drive it upwards. [ 1] If the magma finds a path to the surface, then the result will be a volcanic ...
Magmatism. Geological map showing the Gangdese batholith, which is a product of magmatic activity about 100 million years ago. Magmatism is the emplacement of magma within and at the surface of the outer layers of a terrestrial planet, which solidifies as igneous rocks. It does so through magmatic activity or igneous activity, the production ...
The Moon’s south pole was once covered in an ocean of liquid molten rock, according to scientists. The findings back up a theory that magma formed the Moon's surface around 4.5 billion years ago.
Igneous rock ( igneous from Latin igneus 'fiery'), or magmatic rock, is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks are formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava . The magma can be derived from partial melts of existing rocks in either a planet 's mantle or crust.
Asthenosphere. The asthenosphere (from Ancient Greek ἀσθενός (asthenós) 'without strength') is the mechanically weak [ 1] and ductile region of the upper mantle of Earth. It lies below the lithosphere, at a depth between ~80 and 200 km (50 and 120 mi) below the surface, and extends as deep as 700 km (430 mi). However, the lower ...
Granite ( / ˈɡrænɪt / GRAN-it) is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies underground.
Hotspot (geology) Diagram showing a cross section through Earth at the Hawaii hotspot. Magma originating in the mantle rises into the asthenosphere and lithosphere. A chain of volcanoes is created as the lithosphere moves over the source of magma. In geology, hotspots (or hot spots) are volcanic locales thought to be fed by underlying mantle ...