stoping
n.— «Plutons have long been assumed to form commonly from large accumulations of magma that rise from the lower crust by a process known as stoping. In this process, chunks of a magma chamber’s roof break off and fall to the floor, and thus magma rises to take their place. This paper shows that stoping fails many tests of its viability as a significant process in the ascent of magma.» —“September-October GSA Bulletin media highlights” EurekaAlert Aug. 29, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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