EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF MAGMA MIXING |
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| Abstract: | The paper is devoted to experiments on mixing of natural melts of different compositions at 1300-1850° C and 1-12 kbars. Two series of experiments were carried out: one involving gravity-driven convective mixing and one involving diffusive mixing. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of mixing of contrasting magmas in the course of relative motion. Less viscous mafic melt transforms into andesitic much more easily than viscous silicic melt. The latter tends to “dissolve” into the mafic melt. Diffusive runs revealed selective behavior of alkalies and other components due to diffusion. Uphill diffusion of alkalies may cause double-diffusive convection in intercoupled melts. Diffusive interaction of two contrasting melts is explained as a multistage chemical reaction following the principle of acid-base interaction of components in silicate melts. |
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