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Why would decompression of mantle peridotite cause the production of mafic magma?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Melting points vary with pressure. In nearly all substances the melting point increases with increasing pressure. The peridotite in the mantle is extremely hot and under immense pressure. When it is decompressed some melting occurs. The composition is not uniform and some minerals have lower melting points than others. The mafic minerals will be able to melt while the ultramafic mineralls generally will not.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
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Do adiabatic processes cause cooling by radiation or conduction or convection or insertion or decompression?
Decompression! Says my Physics Major Husband.(Are you in Mr. Fye's physical geography class, by any chance?)
What are hot spots cause by?
Mantle plumes
Does the weather cause a volcano to erupt?
No because weather has no affect on the earth mantle and the mantle is the source of magma for the volcano.
When does circular movement of the magna in mantle happen?
Convention cells in the molten outer core cause convection cells in the mantle.
What is mantle plume?
A mantle plume is a rising mass of extra hot mantle rock. Mantle plumes are though to be the cause of volcanic activity away from plate boundaries.
What is the gas that cause decompression?
helium
Adiabatic processes cause cooling by?
Adiabatic cools by decompression.
What cause inside the earth to melt?
Heat. Molten rock can be formed from the subduction and melting of cold, dense, wet oceanic crust at some convergent plate margins. The moisture in the rock assists in the melting of the crust and the rock surrounding it. Magma is also formed at hot spots in the mantle where hot material undergoes decompression melting as it rises. Decompression melting also occurs at the mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is formed from rising mantle rock.
What might cause solid rock in the Earth's interior to melt and begin to flow?
The mantle cause the mantle to flow.
Do adiabatic processes cause cooling by radiation or conduction or convection or insertion or decompression?
Decompression! Says my Physics Major Husband.(Are you in Mr. Fye's physical geography class, by any chance?)
What is a destructive force caused by the convection in the mantle?
Convection currents in the Earth's mantle are thought to be responsible for plate motions and therefore can ultimately be considered the cause of earthquakes. Mantle upwelling or mantle plumes are also thought to be the cause of hotpots which cause intra-plate volcanic activity such as that which occurs in Hawaii.
What is a destructive force caused by convection currents in the earths mantle?
Convection currents in the Earth's mantle are thought to be responsible for plate motions and therefore can ultimately be considered the cause of earthquakes. Mantle upwelling or mantle plumes are also thought to be the cause of hotpots which cause intra-plate volcanic activity such as that which occurs in Hawaii.
How is it possible for mantle rock to flow?
Mantle rock is composed of a type of igneous rock peridotite which has a high iron and magnesium content. This rock is so hard and dense that it is not able to flow like a liquid. However due to the high temperatures and pressures that are present in the mantle it is possible for mantle rock to flow like a plastic-like material. This process is called "plastic deformation". Plastic deformation occurs when temperatures and pressures are high enough to cause the atoms in the rock to rearrange themselves. This rearrangement allows the rock to become more malleable and it is able to bend and flow like a liquid. This process is responsible for many of the changes that occur in the mantle such as convection currents and plate tectonics. The process of plastic deformation is not easily observed as it occurs deep within the Earth. However scientists have been able to determine the amount of pressure and temperature necessary to cause plastic deformation in mantle rock. It is estimated that temperatures must be at least 2000 degrees Celsius and pressures must be at least 10000 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level in order for mantle rock to flow. In summary mantle rock is composed of peridotite a type of igneous rock that is so hard and dense that it is not able to flow like a liquid. However due to the high temperatures and pressures that are present in the mantle it is possible for mantle rock to flow like a plastic-like material through a process called "plastic deformation". This process is responsible for many of the changes that occur in the mantle such as convection currents and plate tectonics. Temperatures must be at least 2000 degrees Celsius and pressures must be at least 10000 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level in order for mantle rock to flow.
What are hot spots cause by?
Mantle plumes
If a small hole is made in a plane at altitude can it cause explosive decompression and tear the plane apart?
It will cause an explosive decompression but hopefully not tear it apart because planes are assembled in small panels so if one takes a hole it should not spreadhttp://site1.wikianswers.com/images/blank.gif?v=22222
What part of the earths mantle that flows and moves the plates of the earth?
Mantle plumes are in the mantle, BELOW the Earth's crust. The circulation of heat from the lower mantle to the upper mantle can cause "hot spots" in the overlying crust, heating the magma in the areas.
Does the weather cause a volcano to erupt?
No because weather has no affect on the earth mantle and the mantle is the source of magma for the volcano.
