surfusionn.

1850 Ann. Rep. Progress Chem. 1847–8 2 480 The theory of ‘surfusion’ imagined by Fournet in support of the plutonic theory..supposes that liquid quartz, like sulphur, phosphorus, water, solidifies at a temperature lower than that at which the solid quartz is liquefied.

1861 Geologist 4 32 Apparently in granite quartz is the last to crystallize and form the state of so-called ‘surfusion’.

1898 Nature 27 Oct. 620/2 Surfusion..is not confined to pure metals,..the eutectic alloy in the bismuth-copper series presents a marked case of surfusion.

1990 B. Goffaux & I. Verpoest in J. Fuller et al. Developments Sci. & Technol. Composite Materials 1015 The crystalline morphology of both these specimens is very fine; for the higher degree of surfusion, the spherulites are so fine that [etc.].

2003 D. A. Young Mind over Magma vi. 92 Fournier's theory of surfusion failed to gain much support from any quarter, even from Durocher, one of the most enthusiastic proponents of dry fusion of granite.

2006 Cryobiology 53 414/2 The addition of antibiotics delays the crystallization by increasing the surfusion phenomenon and decreasing the quantity of ice formed.