At a subduction zone, melting occurs due to what combination of factors?

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Multiple Choice

At a subduction zone, melting occurs due to what combination of factors?

Explanation:
Flux melting at subduction zones is driven by water released from the subducting slab. As the slab descends, dehydrating minerals release water into the surrounding mantle wedge. This water acts as a flux, dramatically lowering the melting temperature of mantle rocks even under high pressures, so partial melting occurs. The environment is already hot and high-pressure, but without the water this melting would be far less likely; the addition of water enables melting at those conditions, producing magmas that are typically intermediate in composition.

Flux melting at subduction zones is driven by water released from the subducting slab. As the slab descends, dehydrating minerals release water into the surrounding mantle wedge. This water acts as a flux, dramatically lowering the melting temperature of mantle rocks even under high pressures, so partial melting occurs. The environment is already hot and high-pressure, but without the water this melting would be far less likely; the addition of water enables melting at those conditions, producing magmas that are typically intermediate in composition.

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