Melting Points of Rocks

Igneous rocks form through the crystallization of magma. There is a considerable range of melting temperatures for different compositions of magma. All the silicates are molten at about 1200°C and all are solid when cooled to about 600°C. Often the silicates are grouped as high, medium and low-melting point solids.

The pattern shown above where different kinds of minerals crystallize at different temperatures is further developed in the Bowen reaction series. The crystallization temperatures play a large role in the development of the different kinds of igneous rocks upon the cooling of magma.