Ultrabasic rocks

111

·P'eridotite

This term is used for coarse-grained olivine-rich rocks in

which olivine is the dominant mineral but is less than
90 % of the rock. Textbooks usually state that the acces-
sory minerals are all ferromagnesiansand that olivine-
rich rocks containing plagioclase and pyroxene should be
called picrites (or troctolite, if olivine and plagioclase only),
(41, 51). However, picrite is not much used now, and
modern usage allows for plagioclase to be present in
peridotite, as can be indicated by the terms plagioclase or
feldspathic peridotite as in 51. Peridotites containing both
orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene (113) are often called
lherzolites. If clinopyroxene is present and orthopyroxene
in a minor amount or absent, wehrlite is used, and harz-
burgite for the converse.
We have chosen to illustrate this rock by two different
samples.
The upper and middle photographs show a poikilitic
textured peridotite in which, in the lower left part of the
field, a number of round crystals of olivine are embedded
in two clinopyroxene crystals, and elsewhere the olivines
are enclosed by plagioclase crystals. In the centre of the
field, one elongated olivine crystal is surrounded by
plagioclase feldspar. The small opaque crystals are
chromite. The differences in colour and relief between the
plagioclase and the pyroxene are also obvious in the PPL
view: stray polarization produces the pale greenish and
pink colours in this view.
The lower photograph shows an XPL view of a perido-
tite in which numerous olivine crystals are poikilitically
enclosed in a basic plagioclase feldspar. Only a small
proportion of pyroxene is present in this rock.
First and second photographs: Peridotite from Rhum,
Scotland; magn(fication x 12, PPL and XPL.
Third photograph: Peridotite from the Shiant Isles, Scot-
land; magnification x 15, XPL.
Other peridotites are illustrated in 18 and 48.

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Ultrabasic rocks
113

I
(- ·Garnet peridotite

')

A plutonic rock consIsting of more than 40% olivine

with two kinds of pyroxenes and a small amount of
garnet.
The granular-textured specimen illustrated has only one
garnet fairly clearly shown in the field of view; it is at the
left of the lower edge. About the centre of the lower edge
is a crystal of strained phlogopitic mica. The rest of the
field is occupied by olivine (grey), orthopyroxene (pinkish-
brown), and chrome diopside (pale green e.g. middle of top
edge), the olivines and chrome diopside showing moderate
interference colours, orthopyroxene showing low grey
colours in the XPL view.
The veins which penetrate most of the crystals are of
serpentine but around the garnet crystals are thin veins
which are occupied by a pale brown mica: in the XPL
view the interference colours of the micas are moderate
second order.
Garnet peridotitefrom Kimberley, South Africa; magnifica-
tion x 7, PPL and XPL.

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 Ultrabasic rocks
114

Pyroxenite

An ultramafic rock consIstIng mainly of pyroxene(s);

possible accessory minerals include olivine, spinel, garnet,
hornblende, biotite, feldspar, and nepheline. A rock con-
sisting of both orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene is known
as a websterite. If aegerine-augite or nepheline is present
the term alkali pyroxenite is used.
The sample illustrated here is, strictly speaking, a
websterite and shows round orthopyroxene crystals,
recognized by their low first-order colours and a lamellar
structure, poikilitically enclosed by a large zoned clino-
pyroxene crystal showing blue and red interference col-
ours. A few areas of low relief seen in the view in PPL are
basic plagioclase. At the bottom left is a hole in the slide.
A slight difference in colours of the orthopyroxene crystals
can be seen in the PPL view and this is chiefly due to stray
polarization in the photographic equipment.
Websterite from the Stillwater complex, Montana, USA;
magnification x 7, PPL and XPL.

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Ultrabasic rocks
117

I
(-
· -Hornblendite

. ~

An ultramafic igneous rock consisting mainly of horn-

blende. The name amphiboliteis reserved for a metamorphic
rock consisting essentially ofan amphibole and plagioclase.
The first and second photographs are of a hornblendite
in which almost the whole of the field of view is occupied
by amphibole crystals. Many of the crystals are zoned, a
few are twinned and a few are cut in the correct orientation
to show the two cleavages intersecting at 120°. Notice the
lack of preferred orientation of the crystals and their
interlocking relations.
Hornblendite from Donegal, Ireland; magnification x 12,
PPLandXPL.
Another hornblendite is illustrated in 39.

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