Magmatic processes

The dream of having physics and chemistry contribute equally in unraveling magmatic processes has nearly come true. A rigorous, logical infrastructure of forceful, quantitative investigation has not yet fully emerged, but most all the bits and pieces are hovering about, fidgeting for their rightful places. This quadreinnium is marked by the general quantitative investigation of well defined magmatic process as opposed to construction of detailed physicochemical sceneries to explain specific field problems, although some of this has also produced good results. The surest sign of significant progress is the steady implementation of newly investigated physical processes into petrologic thinking. Regardless of inclination, petrologists are actively seeking evidence for or against various processes, are learning the essentials of the mechanics, and, perhaps best of all, are (most often) accurately using the new vocabulary. We are in the midst of an extremely fertile burst of activity, and the next four years promise, in terms of quantitatively solving problems, to be even better.