THE PARTITIONING OF WATER BETWEEN NOMINALLY ANHYDROUS MINERALS AND SILICATE MELTS

Abstract

Many chapters in this volume emphasize that water plays a crucial role in determining the properties and behavior of the mantle. One of the most important examples of the effect of water on mantle behavior is its dramatic effect in reducing melting temperatures, and, in the case of decompression melting, increasing the depth of initiation of melting. Even the small amount of water which could be contained within nominally anhydrous minerals (NAMs) is sufficient to play an important role in generation of MORBs.