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Magma solitons
Author(s) -
Scott David R.,
Stevenson David J.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl011i011p01161
Subject(s) - igneous rock , geology , porous medium , porosity , mantle (geology) , darcy's law , matrix (chemical analysis) , flow (mathematics) , geophysics , mechanics , mineralogy , petrology , geochemistry , geotechnical engineering , physics , materials science , composite material
Motivated to understand the process of melt migration in the earth’s mantle, we have studied a generalised form of Darcy’s law that describes porous flow in a matrix that can deform by creep. We find a remarkable richness of phenomena, including a new class of solitons. These consist of shape‐preserving waves of high liquid fraction which buoyantly ascend through a stationary matrix. This may have important implications for the morphology and geochemistry of primary igneous processes, and applicability to other porous flow problems.