Abstract
Chemical variation diagrams formed from ratios with a common denominator exhibit induced correlations which can obscure the effects of true compositional variations. Nevertheless, important conclusions have been obtained using Pearce element ratio (and isochron) diagrams, even though these diagrams are formed from axes ratios with a common denominator. In this paper, we consider two approaches to mitigate the effects of induced correlation, and in doing so, demonstrate the validity of geochemical analysis using diagrams formed from ratios with a common denominator. First, we propagate analytical error onto Pearce element ratio diagrams to distinguish chemical variations associated with analytical error from chemical variations related to geological processes. Second, we consider an alternative diagram formed from ratios with different denominators which does not exhibit any induced correlation. We demonstrate both theoretically and by example that results produced using this diagram are identical to those using diagrams with a common denominator. These two lines of evidence confirm that Pearce element ratio (and isochron) diagrams are useful and valid tools in the analysis of geochemical variations.
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Pearce, T.H., Stanley, C.R. The validity of pearce element ratio analysis in petrology: an example from the Uwekahuna laccolith, Hawaii. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 108, 212–218 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307339
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307339