What is the typical temperature range for magma?

What is the typical temperature range for magma?

• A. 400–800 C
• B. 700–1300 C
• C. 1500–2000 C
• D. 250–500 C

Answer: (B)

Magma is molten rock formed inside Earth and it stays liquid because the temperatures are extremely high, enough to overcome the rocks’ melting points under high pressure. In practice, magma typically exists around 700 to 1300 degrees Celsius. This broad range reflects different rock types: cooler, silica-rich (felsic) magmas tend toward the lower end, while hotter, magnesium-rich (mafic) magmas sit toward the higher end. Temperatures well above 1300 C aren’t typical for magma under mantle conditions, and temperatures much below about 700 C usually aren’t molten magma. So the standard range 700–1300 C best captures the common temperatures at which magma exists.

Magma is molten rock formed inside Earth and it stays liquid because the temperatures are extremely high, enough to overcome the rocks’ melting points under high pressure. In practice, magma typically exists around 700 to 1300 degrees Celsius. This broad range reflects different rock types: cooler, silica-rich (felsic) magmas tend toward the lower end, while hotter, magnesium-rich (mafic) magmas sit toward the higher end. Temperatures well above 1300 C aren’t typical for magma under mantle conditions, and temperatures much below about 700 C usually aren’t molten magma. So the standard range 700–1300 C best captures the common temperatures at which magma exists.