Earth's Crust Melts Easier Than Previously Thought
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - 15:29
in Earth & Climate
Earth's crust melts easier than previously thought. Researchers measured how well rocks conduct heat at different temperatures and found that as rocks get hotter in the Earth's crust, they become better insulators and poorer conductors. This finding provides insight into how magmas are formed and will lead to better models of continental collision and the formation of mountain belts.