Physical conditions & Bowen’s Reaction Series

(Fo then Fa) (An)

Mafic
(Ens then Aug & Di)

(Ab)

Felsic
 Igneous Rocks & Bowen’s Reaction Series

Mafic

Felsic
Composition of Igneous Rocks
Heat Sources
in the Earth
1. Heat from the early accretion and
differentiation of the
Earth
 still slowly reaching surface
2. Heat released by the radioactive
breakdown of unstable nuclides
Ionic charge
vs. radius
Preference
for melt

Preference for
Plot of ionic radius vs. ionic charge for
trace elements of geological interest.
mineral phase
Ionic radii are quoted for eight-fold
coordination to allow for comparison
between elements. From Rollinson
(1993).
 Heat flow and geothermal gradients

10°C/km
16°/km
24°C/km
 Heat flow and geothermal gradients

10°C/km
16°/km
24°C/km

Base of crustal root in the Sierra ~30km (=300°C),

in the Basin & Range ~20km (=480°C)
Estimating
pressure
increases ~6 kb

Estimate ~3.33 kbar/km ~12 kb

(1 GPa = 10 kbar)

Figure 1-9. Estimated ranges of oceanic and

continental steady-state geotherms to a depth
of 100 km using upper and lower limits based
on heat flows measured near the surface.
After Sclater et al. (1980), Earth. Rev.
Geophys. Space Sci., 18, 269-311.
To calculate
A geothermal
gradient from
heat flow:
Δz
k =q
ΔT
k = q z
T €

k, thermal
conductivity
constant (q)
(medium-
dependent)