Effects of crystalline anisotropy on fluid distribution in ultramafic partial melts

The textures of experimentally produced ultramafic partial melts show consistent and significant deviations from the morphology predicted by isotropic equilibrium theory. Flat crystalline interfaces are pervasive in these systems and they coexist with smoothly curved boundaries which are predicted by the isotropic theory. Both experimental evidence and theoretical considerations indicate that the flat faces are stable equilibrium or steady state features in these partial melts, and that they are crystallographically controlled. The crystal-melt morphology is influenced by the crystalline equilibrium habit under the constraints of polycrystalline aggregates. An interpretation of the observed texture is made, applying established crystal growth and interface theories to steady state partially molten sytems. -from Authors