Tag: magmatism
Dike: what is it?
Dykes are intrusions of igneous rocks within the Earth’s crust. Unlike the plutos, which form massive sets, the dykes are in the form of veins which cut the rocks of…
Migmatitis: what is it?
Under certain conditions of pressure and temperature, the rocks that make up the continental crust can melt. However, the rocks of the earth’s crust have very varied compositions. They are…
On the trail of one of the world’s largest explosive volcanic eruptions
A study of volcanic deposits in Danish sediments recently showed that a gigantic explosive eruption took place 55 million years ago in the middle of the North Atlantic, propelling a…
How a continent opened up influences the location of future subduction zones
A new study provides a better understanding of where and how subduction zones are initiated, a major stage in the Wilson cycle. It appears that the tectonic and magmatic heritage…
Batholith: what is it?
The batholiths represent huge granite massifs intrusive in the continental crust. During a magmatic episode produced by the partial fusion at the base of the continental crust, it is rare…