where does partial melting occur in the earth
Partial melting Partial melting is an important consideration in geology with respect to the chemical differentiation of crustal rocks. Virtually all rocks on Earth derive from material from the interior of the earth that has been partially melted. The main places where partial melting occurs are subduction zones, mid-ocean ridges and hotspots. In all these places partial melting is often associated with volcanism, although some melts do not make it to the surface. Partial melts are thought to play an important role in enriching old parts of the continental lithosphere in incompatible elements.[1] Partial melts produced at depth move upwards due to the compaction of the surrounding matrix.[2]
Geothermal heating Geothermal energy originates from the heat retained within the Earth since the original formation of the planet, from radioactive decay of minerals, and from solar energy absorbed at the surface.[2] Most high temperature geothermal heat is harvested in regions close to tectonic plate boundaries where volcanic activity rises close to the surface of the Earth. In these areas, ground and groundwater can be found with temperatures higher than the target temperature of the application. However, even cold ground contains heat, below 6 metres (20Â ft) the undisturbed ground temperature is consistently at the Mean Annual Air Temperature[3] and it may be extracted with a heat pump.