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Igneous-Petrology Norms Included
Igneous-Petrology Norms Included
Igneous-Petrology Norms Included
Petrology
PETROGRAPHY
The description and systematic classification of rocks, aided by
the microscopic examination of thin sections.
PETROLOGY
The study of the origin, occurrence, structure and history of rocks,
much broader process/study than petrography.
PETROGENESIS
A branch of petrology dealing with the origin and formation of
rocks. Involves a combination of mineralogical, chemical and
field data.
Petrologic, petrographic, and petrogenetic studies can be applied
to igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rocks.
The Earth’s Interior
Crust:
Oceanic crust
Thin: 10 km
Relatively uniform stratigraphy
= ophiolite suite:
• Sediments
• pillow basalt
• sheeted dikes
• more massive gabbro
• ultramafic (mantle)
Continental Crust
Thicker: 20-90 km average ~35 km
Highly variable composition
– Average ~ granodiorite
The Earth’s Interior
Mantle:
Peridotite (ultramafic)
Upper to 410 km (olivine spinel)
Low Velocity Layer 60-220 km
SiIV SiVI
Lower Mantle has more gradual
velocity increase
Core:
Fe-Ni metallic alloy
Outer Core is liquid
No S-waves
Inner Core is solid
GENETIC
plutonic - at depth
hypabyssal - intermediate depth
volcanic - on the Earth's surface.
SiO2 Saturation
Minerals present in igneous rocks can be divided into two groups:
Those which are compatible with quartz or primary SiO2 mineral (tridymite,
cristobalite) these minerals are saturated with respect to Si, e.g feldspars,
pyroxenes.
Those which never occur with a primary silica mineral. These are
undersaturated minerals, e.g. Mg-rich olivine, nepheline.
FeO* 10
10
With increasing Silica the CaO
following trends are 5
5
evident:
FeO, MgO and CaO decrease 0 0
in abundance. 4
6
Na2O 3
K2O and Na2O increase. 4 K2O
2
ppm
Note
magnitude
of trace
element
changes
ppm
V, Ti Both show strong fractionation into Fe-Ti oxides (ilmenite or titanomagnetite). If they behave
differently, Ti probably fractionates into an accessory phase, such as sphene or rutile.
Zr, Hf Very incompatible elements that do not substitute into major silicate phases (although they may
replace Ti in sphene or rutile).
Ba, Rb Incompatible element that substitutes for K in K-feldspar, micas, or hornblende. Rb substitutes
less readily in hornblende than K-spar and micas, such that the K/Ba ratio may distinguish these
phases.
Sr Substitutes for Ca in plagioclase (but not in pyroxene), and, to a lesser extent, for K in K-
feldspar. Behaves as a compatible element at low pressure where plagioclase forms early, but
as an incompatible at higher pressure where plagioclase is no longer stable.
REE Garnet accommodates the HREE more than the LREE, and orthopyroxene and hornblende do
2+
so to a lesser degree. Sphene and plagioclase accommodates more LREE. Eu is strongly
partitioned into plagioclase.
Y Commonly incompatible (like HREE). Strongly partitioned into garnet and amphibole. Sphene
and apatite also concentrate Y, so the presence of these as accessories could have a
significant effect.
12
10
8 Alkaline
%Na2O + K2O
2
Subalkaline
35 40 45 50 55 60 65
%SiO
AFM diagram: can further subdivide the subalkaline
magma series into a tholeiitic and a calc-alkaline series
ic
Calc-alkaline
A M
1. Tholeitic series
Fe-rich, alkali poor.
Metaluminous
Px/Hb/Bt-bearing basalts, andesites, dacites, rhyolites (BADR)
Tholeitic series are common in oceanic ridges, intraplate-volcanoes ± convergent
margins. They correspond to melting by decrease of pressure.
2. Calc-alkaline series
Moderately alkaline, more magnesian
Metaluminous to peraluminous
BADR, that can feature ms/gt/cd in the more differenciated terms
Calc-alkaline series are mostly found in convergent margins. They correspond to
melting by adding water to the source (and therefore “shifting” the solidus towards
lower temperatures).
3. Alkaline series
Alkali rich, Fe-rich
Metaluminous to peralkaline
Evolution towards trachytes (moderaltely alkaline series) or phonolites (very
alkaline series), that can feature riebeckite, aegyrine, etc.
Alkaline series are found in intra-plate situations ± convergent margins. They
correspond to melting by increase of temperature.
Fractionation Indices
To obtain a genetic link between
analyses of a given suite of samples
fractionation indices were developed.
These indices attempt to the results of
chemical analyses from an individual
igneous suite into their correct
evolutionary order. These indices are not
realistic but several come close to such
an order.
MgO Index
This is used for basaltic rocks. Positive correlations are
produced for Na2O, K2O, and P2O5 indicating enrichment
in these oxides with successive liquids. Negative
correlations result for CaO.
Mg-Fe Ratios
Again used for basaltic rocks. These involve a ratio of Mg to Fe:
MgO/MgO+FeO (ferrous)
MgO/MgO+FeO+Fe2O3 (ferric)
Mg/Mg+Fe (uses atomic proportions of the cations).
Normative Ab/Ab+An
Based on the values of Na2O and CaO. Only good for rocks
which crystallize plagioclase, not effected by mafic mineral
formation. Generally applied to granites.
The above three indices are only good for specific lithologies,
and thus have a restricted application.
Two fractionation indices, based on complex equations have
been suggested for more comprehensive use.
Solidification Index (Kuno, 1959)
SI = 100 MgO/(MgO+FeO+Fe2O3+Na2O+K2O)
For basalts this is similar to Mg/Fe ratios due to the relatively
poor alkali content. As fractionation progresses the
residual liquids become enriched in alkaliis, thus Na2O
and K2O contents offset the Mg-Fe index. For mafic rocks
SI is high, for felsic rocks SI is low.
Differentiation Index (Thornton and tuttle, 1960)
DI = normative Q+Or+Ab+Ne+Ks+Lc
This is based on the normative analyis results. For mafic
rocks DI will be low, because in normative calculation
these minerals are minor. Felsic rocks DI will be high
because these minerals are abundant in the norm.
Alkali vs. Silica diagram for Hawaiian volcanics:
Seems to be two distinct groupings: alkaline and subalkaline
12
10
8 Alkaline
%Na2O + K2O
2
Subalkaline
35 40 45 50 55 60 65
%SiO
AFM diagram: can further subdivide the subalkaline
magma series into a tholeiitic and a calc-alkaline series
ic
Calc-alkaline
A M
F
Tholeiitic
Ferro-Basalt
B-A
Basalt
A
D
Basalt
Ba
An sal
d es tic
i te An
Da des
R cite it e
Rh
y oli
te
Calc-alkaline
A M
biotite pyroxene aegirine
muscovite hornblende riebeckite
cordierite biotite arfvedsonite
andalusite
garnet CaO
CaO
CaO K2O
moles
K2O
Al2O3 K2O Al2O3 Al2O3
Na2O Na 2O
Na2O
Disadvantages
Meaningless if the sample has a preferred orientation
of one or more minerals.
Porphyritic rocks are difficult to count.
Total area of sample must be sufficiently larger than
the max. diameter of the smallest grain size.
NORMATIVE ANALYSIS OR NORM
Normative analysis is defined as the calculation of a theoretical assemblage
of standard minerals for a rock based, on the whole rock chemical
composition as determined by analytical techniques. The original
purpose for the norm was essentially taxonomic. An elaborate
classification scheme based on the normative mineral percentages was
proposed. The classification groups together rocks of similar bulk
composition irrespective of their mineralogy. Various types of NORMs
have been proposed - CIPW, Niggli, Barth. Each of theses proposals has
its own specific advantages and/or disadvantages.
The CIPW norm, originally proposed in 1919, was proposed as a means of
comparing and classifying all igneosu rocks for which chemical analyses
wers available. The NORM takes it's name from the four authors who
proposed it - Cross, Iddings, Pirsson and Washington. This NORM was
very elegant and based on a number of simplifications:
The magma crystallizes under anhydrous conditions so that no hydrous
minerals (hornblende, biotite) are formed.
The feromagnesium minerals are assumed to be free of Al2O3.
The Fe/Mg ratio for all feromagnesium minerals is assumed to be the same.
Several minerals are assumed to be incompatible, thus nepheline and/or
olivine never appear with quartz in the norm.
Since the CIPW NORM was introduced in 1919 several other normative
calculations have been suggested, e.g. Niggli norm, Barth mesonorm.
The latter is used commonly when examining granitic rocks.
Plate Tectonic - Igneous
Genesis
1. Mid-ocean Ridges 5. Back-arc Basins
2. Intracontinental Rifts 6. Ocean Island Basalts
3. Island Arcs 7. Miscellaneous Intra-
4. Active Continental Continental
Margins Activity
kimberlites, carbonatites,
anorthosites...