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Graphical representation of mineral equilibria and materials balances in igneous rocks

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Abstract

The ‘Thompson projection’ traditionally used by metamorphic petrologists is modified and used to study mineral equilibrium and mass balance relations of igneous rocks. Proportions of minerals in rocks and equilibrium minerals assemblages are predictable from bulk rock compositional data, consequently the projection simplifies chemical studies of plutonic and volcanic rock suites, and mixed plutonic-volcanic suites particularly, because bulk rock compositions can be directly compared with mineral compositions. As an example, changes to bulk magma compositions resulting from differentiation by crystal fractionation (Thingmuli Volcano; Red Hill Dyke) are immediately discernible and tholeiitic calc-alkaline and alkaline differentiation trends are quite distinct on the diagram. As well, minerals which have been removed from a magma during crystal fractionation generally can be identified and their compositions estimated. Magmas the compositions of which result from the mixing of two components (Kilauea Volcano) are easily identified as are the ‘end-member’ mixing components of the mixed magmas.

The diagram is applicable to both igneous and metamorphic rock suites, consequently it should be of particular use to those studying anataxis and granite genesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Western Ont., London, Ontario, Canada

    H. W. Nesbitt

  2. Dept. of Geology, McMaster Univ., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    J. J. Cramer

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  1. H. W. Nesbitt
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  2. J. J. Cramer
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Nesbitt, H.W., Cramer, J.J. Graphical representation of mineral equilibria and materials balances in igneous rocks. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 78, 136–144 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373775

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