MagmaSchmelze

MagmaSchmelze is a term used in German-language geology to describe the molten component of magma—the silicate liquid that resides in the Earth's crust and mantle. In English, this is typically called the magma melt or silicate melt. The MagmaSchmelze exists together with solid crystals and often gas bubbles, forming a magmatic mush rather than a fully liquid mass.

It is produced by partial melting of existing rocks and can also form by fractional crystallization and differentiation of magmas. Temperature and pressure determine its form, with melts commonly ranging from mafic to felsic compositions. Volatiles such as water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur lower the melting temperature and reduce viscosity, influencing magma mobility and eruption style.

Physical properties of the MagmaSchmelze depend on silica content, temperature, and crystal load. Mafic melts are hotter and less viscous, aiding ascent, while felsic melts are more viscous and tend to trap gases, often associated with explosive activity.

The composition of the MagmaSchmelze reflects its source rocks and magmatic history, yielding a spectrum from basaltic through andesitic to rhyolitic melts. Its evolution drives magmatic differentiation, crust formation, and volcanic processes.

Study and interpretation rely on petrology, phase equilibrium experiments, and geochemical analyses of melt inclusions and glassy rocks. Understanding the MagmaSchmelze helps illuminate volcanic histories and crustal magmatism.

See also: magma, partial melting, magmatic differentiation, lava.