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  • Rock Melting Points: Understanding Temperature Ranges & Factors
    Rocks don't have a single melting point like water. Instead, they have a melting range. This is because rocks are made up of different minerals, each with its own melting point.

    Here's a breakdown:

    * General Range: The melting temperature of rocks typically falls between 600°C (1112°F) and 1200°C (2192°F).

    * Factors Affecting Melting: The exact melting point of a rock depends on several factors:

    * Mineral composition: Rocks rich in silica (like granite) melt at higher temperatures than rocks with more magnesium and iron (like basalt).

    * Pressure: Higher pressure raises the melting point. This is why rocks deep within the Earth melt at higher temperatures than those closer to the surface.

    * Water content: The presence of water lowers the melting point of rocks.

    It's important to note that the melting process is not instantaneous. Instead, rocks gradually soften and become partially molten as they approach their melting range. This is why we have magma, which is molten rock found beneath the Earth's surface.

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