This diagram of Bowen's Reaction Series shows how the common silicate minerals crystalize at different temperatures.
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Bowen's Reaction Series
Deep inside the Earth, or at a volcano, melted rock is becoming solid mineral crystals. Some minerals, like olivine, make crystals when the hot liquid rock is still very hot. Other minerals, like biotite and quartz, make crystals when it is less hot.
Igneous rocks have different minerals in them depending on the temperature when they formed.
Last modified June 17, 2003 by Lisa Gardiner.
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