Bulk Composition entry & Liquid Composition Display
Graph of Liquid Composition
Graphical Display of Liquid Composition
During a typical MELTS calculation the liquid composition graph window will display a history of the evolution of liquid composition as the magma crystallizes:
Liquid composition is reported in wt% oxides on the y-axis and plotted against grams of crystallized solids on the x-axis. Results are color coded by oxide for clarity. To identify a particular trend with a specific oxide, zoom in on the trend of interest and compare the plotted composition against that listed in the Liquid Composition panel of the MELTS display.
A point is plotted on the liquid composition graph for every "equilibrium composition" specified in the model calculation. For example, in the above graph, the modeled reaction path corresponds to the equilibrium crystallization of MORB at constant pressure over a temperature range of 50 degrees. This calculation was performed in 5 degree intervals (specified using the T,P... entry of the Intensive Variables menu). Consequently, a point is plotted every 5 degrees and the spacing of the points on the x-axis gives the amount of mass which precipitates over each 5 degree interval.
For information on how to zoom in on graph details, save graphs as postscript files and perform other graph related functions, click here.