Evolution of Magmas: Bowen’s Reaction series

 Bowen’s reaction series loosely depicts that the continuous fractionation

crystallization of a parent melt can produce a series of rocks with progressively more
siliceous member.
 Changing the magma from a basaltic composition to a granitic composition
Evolution of Magmas: Chemical signatures

Primary magmas : Magmas that are derived directly by partial melting of mantle, and
they have no characteristics that reflect the effects of subsequent differentiation.
Evolved magmas: Magmas that have experienced some form of chemical
differentiation.

Chemical changes with progressive Magmatic differentiation:

 Progressive change of the magma from a basaltic composition to a granitic

composition
 Progressive increase in SiO2 content.
 Progressive increase in the concentration of incompatible elements: K2O, Na2O
 Progressive decrease in the concentration of MgO, FeO, CaO, as they are
incorporated in the early forming minerals (see Bowens reaction series).
Evolution of Magmas: Chemical signatures

 Chemical changes with progressive Magmatic differentiation:

• change of the magma
Table 8-3. Chemical analyses of some from a basaltic
representative igneous rocks composition to a
granitic composition
Peridotite Basalt Andesite Rhyolite
• increase in SiO2
SiO2 42.26 49.20 57.94 72.82 content.
TiO2 0.63 1.84 0.87 0.28 • increase in the
Al2O3 4.23 15.74 17.02 13.27 concentration of
Fe2O3 3.61 3.79 3.27 1.48 incompatible elements:
K2O, Na2O
FeO 6.58 7.13 4.04 1.11
• decrease in the
MnO 0.41 0.20 0.14 0.06
concentration of MgO,
MgO 31.24 6.73 3.33 0.39 FeO, CaO, as they are
CaO 5.05 9.47 6.79 1.14 incorporated in the
early forming minerals
Na2O 0.49 2.91 3.48 3.55
(see Bowens reaction
K2O 0.34 1.10 1.62 4.30 series).
H2O+ 3.91 0.95 0.83 1.10

Total 98.75 99.06 99.3 99.50

Evolution of Magmas: Chemical signatures

 Chemical changes with progressive Magmatic differentiation: Variation diagrams:

Harker diagram
• SiO2 increased steadily with magmatic
evolution, and thus used as the abscissa
• The magma with the lowest silica content
is parental magma/ primary magma, rest
are differentiated/derivative magma.
• fractional crystallization is the predominant
method of magma differentiation
• relate the observed trends to a reasonable
sequence of extracted minerals
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: In magmatic system

Compatibility depends on minerals and melts involved

Table 9-1. Partition Coefficients (CS/CL) for Some Commonly Used Trace
Elements in Basaltic and Andesitic Rocks

Olivine Opx Cpx Garnet Plag Amph Magnetite

Rb 0.01 0.022 0.031 0.042 0.071 0.29
Sr 0.014 0.04 0.06 0.012 1.83 0.46
Ba 0.01 0.013 0.026 0.023 0.23 0.42
Ni 14.0 5.0 7.0 0.955 0.01 6.8 29.
Cr 0.7 10.0 34.0 1.345 0.01 2.0 7.4
La 0.007 0.03 0.056 0.001 0.148 0.544 2.
Rare Earth Elements

Ce 0.006 0.02 0.092 0.007 0.082 0.843 2.

Nd 0.006 0.03 0.23 0.026 0.055 1.34 2.
Sm 0.007 0.05 0.445 0.102 0.039 1.804 1.
Eu 0.007 0.05 0.474 0.243 0.1/1.5* 1.557 1.
Dy 0.013 0.15 0.582 3.17 0.023 2.024 1.
Er 0.026 0.23 0.583 6.56 0.02 1.74 1.5
Yb 0.049 0.34 0.542 11.5 0.023 1.642 1.4
Lu 0.045 0.42 0.506 11.9 0.019 1.563
Data from Rollinson (1993). * Eu3+/Eu2+ Italics are estimated

trace elements that are strongly partitioned

into a single mineral may provide a sensitive
measure of the amount of the mineral that has
fractionally crystallized
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: In magmatic system

Compatibility depends on minerals and melts involved

Table 9-1. Partition Coefficients (CS/CL) for Some Commonly Used Trace
Elements in Basaltic and Andesitic Rocks

Olivine Opx Cpx Garnet Plag Amph Magnetite

Rb 0.01 0.022 0.031 0.042 0.071 0.29
Sr 0.014 0.04 0.06 0.012 1.83 0.46
Ba 0.01 0.013 0.026 0.023 0.23 0.42
Ni 14.0 5.0 7.0 0.955 0.01 6.8 29.
Cr 0.7 10.0 34.0 1.345 0.01 2.0 7.4
La 0.007 0.03 0.056 0.001 0.148 0.544 2.
Rare Earth Elements

Ce 0.006 0.02 0.092 0.007 0.082 0.843 2.

Nd 0.006 0.03 0.23 0.026 0.055 1.34 2.
Sm 0.007 0.05 0.445 0.102 0.039 1.804 1.
Eu 0.007 0.05 0.474 0.243 0.1/1.5* 1.557 1.
Dy 0.013 0.15 0.582 3.17 0.023 2.024 1.
Er 0.026 0.23 0.583 6.56 0.02 1.74 1.5
Yb 0.049 0.34 0.542 11.5 0.023 1.642 1.4
Lu 0.045 0.42 0.506 11.9 0.019 1.563
Data from Rollinson (1993). * Eu3+/Eu2+ Italics are estimated

The melt crystallized one mineral which is removed

from the system.
Can you guess the mineral name?
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: In magmatic system

For a rock, determine the bulk distribution coefficient D for an element

by calculating the contribution for each mineral

Di =  WA Di A
WA = weight fraction of mineral A in the rock
DiA= partition coefficient of element i in mineral A
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: In magmatic system

For a rock, determine the bulk distribution coefficient D for an element

by calculating the contribution for each mineral
Table 9-1. Partition Coefficients (CS/CL) for Some Commonly Used Trace Example: hypothetical
Elements in Basaltic and Andesitic Rocks garnet lherzolite = 60%
olivine, 25%
Olivine Opx Cpx Garnet Plag Amph Magnetite orthopyroxene, 10%
Rb 0.01 0.022 0.031 0.042 0.071 0.29 clinopyroxene, and 5%
garnet (all by weight),
Sr 0.014 0.04 0.06 0.012 1.83 0.46
Ba 0.01 0.013 0.026 0.023 0.23 0.42
Ni 14.0 5.0 7.0 0.955 0.01 6.8 29. using the data in Table,
Cr 0.7 10.0 34.0 1.345 0.01 2.0 7.4 is:
La 0.007 0.03 0.056 0.001 0.148 0.544 2.
Rare Earth Elements

Ce 0.006 0.02 0.092 0.007 0.082 0.843 2.

Nd 0.006 0.03 0.23 0.026 0.055 1.34 2.
Sm 0.007 0.05 0.445 0.102 0.039 1.804 1.
Eu 0.007 0.05 0.474 0.243 0.1/1.5* 1.557 1. DEr = (0.6 · 0.026) + (0.25 ·
Dy 0.013 0.15 0.582 3.17 0.023 2.024 1. 0.23) + (0.10 · 0.583) +
Er 0.026 0.23 0.583 6.56 0.02 1.74 1.5 (0.05 · 6.56) = 0.459
Yb 0.049 0.34 0.542 11.5 0.023 1.642 1.4
Lu 0.045 0.42 0.506 11.9 0.019 1.563
Data from Rollinson (1993). * Eu3+/Eu2+ Italics are estimated
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Batch Melting/ Equilibrium melting

 If a rock partially melts, the liquid is likely to have a different trace element
concentration than the rock that is melting.
 The melt remains resident until at some point it is released and moves upward.
 Closed system until the melt leaves the system.

Equilibrium crystallization

 crystals form from a cooling melt in a closed system

 Chemical equilibrium is maintained until the melt has completely crystallized or no
eruptions of magma out of the system
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Batch Melting

 If a rock partially melts, the liquid is likely to have a different trace element
concentration than the rock that is melting.
 The melt remains resident until at some point it is released and moves upward.
 Closed system until the melt leaves the system.
 Equilibrium melting process with variable % melting

C 1
L
=
C O Di (1 - F) + F
CL = trace element concentration in the liquid
CO = trace element concentration in the original rock before melting began
F = wt fraction of melt produced = melt/(melt + rock)
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Batch Melting

C 1
L
=
C O Di (1 - F) + F

If we know the concentration of an element

(especially incompatible elements) in both a
magma and the source rock, and if we know
corresponding D, we can determine the fraction
of partial melt produced.
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Batch Melting

C 1
L
=
C O Di (1 - F) + F
D = 1.0
No fractionation so CL/CO = 1 for all values
of F

D » 1.0 (compatible element)

Very low concentration in melt
Especially for low % melting (low F)

D << 1.0 (incompatible element)

greatly concentrated in the initial small

fraction of melt that is produced by partial
melting,
subsequently get diluted as F increases
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Batch Melting
As F  1 the concentration of every
trace element in the liquid = the source
rock (CL/CO  1)
C 1 As F  1
L
=
C O Di (1 - F) + F CL/CO  1
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Batch Melting

C 1
L
=
C O Di (1 - F) + F
D  0 (highly incompatible element)
CL 1
=
CO F

If we know the concentration of a highly

incompatible element in both a magma and
the source rock, we can directly determine
the fraction of partial melt produced.
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Batch Melting

C 1 Same equation can be applied in case of

L
=
C Di (1 - F) + F equilibrium crystallization.
O
 BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Batch Melting

C 1
L
=
C O Di (1 - F) + F

In case of fractional crystallization or partial

melting, this equation is valid until the
crystal/melt leaves the system.
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Equilibrium fractionation
Concentration of element B in liq = CBL
A D B C = (amount of B) in liq
C A A
amout of (A+B+C+D) in liq
C B B C
D
B C B C A A B
D A D D C
C B D A D B C B C A
B C B C
A B B
A C C B D D D
C B
D B
B C
A B C D B C B B C B C C B B C B B
A D A B
A D A A A A C D A D C C B
A C B D D
A D A A
A compatible D A A C D A
A C B
D A D A A
D A A C D
C A
A D A
B incompatible
Compare with the appropriate fractionation curves
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: Models of Magma Evolution

Rayleigh fractionation

 separation of crystal/melt instantaneously as it is formed = perfectly continuous

fractional crystallization/melting in a magma chamber.
 only instantaneous equilibrium between solid and liquid.
 Can produce extreme trace element enrichment.
BEHAVIOUR OF TRACE ELEMENTS: In magmatic system

Rayleigh fractionation

A B C
D B
A A D C
C B C
C B C A
B A B C
D A D B D
D A D C
C B C B B
B C
A C B B
A C B D C B
C C
D C
B B B
A D A B
D B C C
C B
B
A B
A compatible A
A D A
D C B
A D
C A D
A C D
B incompatible D
Compare with the appropriate fractionation curves C
Properties of Magma: Viscosity

The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to flow.

 Viscosity of a magma increases with cooling and with crystal formation.

 Viscosity of magma decreases with the volatile content present within the magma.
Properties of Magma: Viscosity

Aa lava:

Highly viscous basaltic lava.

Rough, jagged surface.

Lower temperature.

Pahoehoe lava:

Less viscous basaltic lava, flows.

Smooth, braided surface.

Higher temperature
Viscosity of magma: Effect of SiO2

Increasing SiO2
Increasing polymerization
Increasing viscosity

 Viscosity of felsic melts (that contains

framework silicates) is higher than mafic
melts (contains neso/chain silicates).
 Granitic melt is more viscous than basalts.
Viscosity of magma: Effect of Fluid (H2O)

-Si-O-Si + H2O
 -Si-OH + OH-Si

 Addition of H2O
depolymerizes silicate
melt and reduces
viscosity.

 Solubility of H2O is greater in felsic melts

(that contains framework silicates) than
ultramafic melts (contains neso/chain
silicates).
Viscosity of magma: Effect of Fluid (CO2)

-Si-O + O-Si + CO2  -Si-O-Si- + -CO3-

 Addition of CO2 polymerizes silicate melt and increases viscosity.
 CO2 dissolves more in mafic melt.
 CO2 dissolves more when H2O is present.
Plutonic structures:

Laccolith Lopolith
Plutonic structures:
Volcanic structures: