Structure-sensitive physical properties of partially melted rocks

Structure-sensitive physical properties (or generalized conductivity) such as electrical conductivity, heat conduction, viscosity and elastic properties significantly change on partial melting. Though the connectivity of a melts is of decisive importance, these properties are also considerably affected by the size, surface properties, shape and orientation of inclusions. Lateral discretness of the asthenosphere can be explained as being a result of inversion in melt distribution pattern, a transition from isolated inclusions and films to interconnected films, which causes drastic changes of the generalized conductivity.