This is an experimental investigation of the shapes of melt inclusions in upper mantle partial melts. This investigation is motivated by the observation that the crystal-melt morphology of experimentally produced samples is not consistent with theoretically predicted smoothly curved crystal-melt interfaces. The melt geometry has a paramount effect on seismic velocities, and the data can be applied to model the upper mantle velocity structure in the presence of melt. Analysis of digital backscattered electron images of the post-run samples will be used to obtain the parameters needed (such as the aspect ration of melt inclusions, their area, the total melt fraction) to calculate seismic velocities, based on established models of elastic, anelasic and electrical properties of partially molten rocks. This is a promising new approach to characterize the melt distribution in upper mantle systems.
