Models of filter differentiation

Abstract A survey of 40 books and articles referring to filter differentiation processes indicates a need to formulate a more complete and coherent presentation of these processes. To obtain a more comprehensive description, the individual models are sorted in this paper into seven different groups dealing with the nature of the filters, and magma state and driving forces behind these processes. The term ‘filter pressing’ shall be replaced by the term ‘filter differentiation’, defined here as ‘the separation of a melt and crystals by sieving’. The term ‘filter differentiation’ is limited here to magmatic crystallization since it seems to be an inadequate model for the segregation of anatectic melts from their host rocks.