Partial melting. granulite facies metamorphism and the evolution of the continental crust

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Partial melting. granulite facies metamorphism and the evolution of the continental crust. The basement of the continents is made up largely of rocks that have partially melted at deep levels in ancient mountain belts. Such granulite facies rocks hold a key to understanding the evolution of the continents. Now, with a model for the thermodynamics of melt, partial melting processes can be investigated quantitatively for the first time. Integrating rock-based studies of granulite facies terrains with thermodynamic calculations will allow granulite facies rocks, and, as a consequence, the evolution of the continental crust, to be much better understood.