Abstract
In the 1940s a major debate raged as to whether some granite bodies of plutonic dimensions were formed from magmas or by replacement processes (Grout, 1941; Read, 1948). Geologists favoring replacement, the “granitizers,” suggested that Si and K are introduced into diorites and gabbros as Al, Fe, Mg, and Ca are subtracted from the mafic rocks to convert them to felsic granites (Table 1). “Magmatists,” geologists supporting a melt-origin, believed that granitic magmas are created in “dry” rocks devoid of free water and at temperatures hot enough to cause thermal breakdown of water-bound minerals (Whitney, 1988; Leake, 1990). At these temperatures partial melting of granitic compositions occur and leave mafic restites. Experimental work in closed systems on melted natural and artificial granites convinced the magmatists that granites of plutonic dimensions formed from melts derived from mantle or lower crustal sources (Tuttle and Bowen, 1958; Luth et al, 1964). The experimental work showed that granitoid compositions plot near eutectics of phase diagrams. Lowest temperature points in these diagrams represent ultimate conditions for either (1) initial melting or (2) fractional crystallization of silica-saturated magmas. The magmatists concluded that because most granites plot near these low-temperature points, their bulk chemical content must be controlled by the sequence in which minerals first melt or the sequence in which minerals first crystallize and fractionally settle from a melt.Magmatists also opposed the forming of granites by replacement processes on the basis that, (1) although many granitic terranes are heterogeneous, many large granite bodies are homogeneous, and (2) because replacing fluids are likely heterogeneous, the creation of uniform granite plutons from them is unlikely (Clarke, 1992).
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Carmen, J.H., and Tuttle, O.F., 1964, Experimental study bearing on the origin of myrmekite. Abstr.,Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper, 76:29.
Clarke, D.B., 1992, “Granitoid Rocks,” Chapman & Hall, London, 283 pp.
Collins, L.G., 1988a, “Hydrothermal Differentiation And Myrmekite-A Clue To Many Geologic Puzzles.” Theophrastus Publications S.A., Athens, 382 pp.
—, 1988b, Myrmekite, a mystery solved near Temecula, Riverside County, California. Calif. Geol.41:276–281.
—, and Davis, T.E., 1992, Origin of high-grade biotite-sillimanite-garnet-cordierite gneisses by hydrothermal differentiation, Colorado, in “High Grade Metamorphic Rocks,” S.S. Augustithis, ed., pp. 297–339, Theophrastus Publications, Athens.
Gentry, R.W., 1988, “Creation’s Tiny Mystery,” 2nd ed., Earth Sci. Assoc, Knoxville, 348 pp.
Grout, F.F., 1941, Formation of igneous-looking rocks by metasomatism: a critical review and suggested research, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 52:1525–1576.
Hunt, C.W., 1990, “Environment of Violence,” Polar Publishing, Calgary, 211 pp.
—, Collins, L.G., and Skobelin, E.A., 1992, “Expanding Geospheres, Energy and Mass Transfers from Earth’s Interior,” Polar Publishing, Calgary, 421 pp.
Larin, V.N., in press, “Hydridic Earth, the New Geology of our Primordially Hydrogen-rich Planet,” C.W. Hunt, ed., Polar Publishing, Calgary.
Leake, B.E., 1990, Granite magmas: their sources, initiation and consequences of emplacement: J. Geol. Soc. London, 147:579–589.
Luth, W.C., Jahns, R.H., and Tuttle, O.F., 1964, The granite system at pressures of 4 to 10 kilobars, J. Geophys. Res., 69:759–773.
Michel-Lévy, A.M., 1874, Structure microscopique des roches acides anciennes. Soc. Fr. Mineral. Crystallogr. Bull., 3:201–222.
Phillips, E.R., 1974, Myrmekite-one hundred years later, Lithos, 7:181–194.
Read, H.H., 1948, Granites and granites, in: J. Gilluly, ed., “Origin Of Granite,” Gilluly, J., ed., Geol. Soc. Amer. Mem., 28:1–19.
Tuttle, O.F., and Bowen, N.L., 1958, Origin of granite in the light of experimental studies in the system NaAlSi308-KAlSi308-Si02-H20, Geol. Soc. Amer. Mem. 74, 153 pp.
Whitney, J A., 1988, Origin of granite: the role and source of water in the evolution of granitic magmas, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 100:1886–1897.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Collins, L.G. (1994). The Origin of Granite and Continental Masses in an Expanding Earth. In: Barone, M., Selleri, F. (eds) Frontiers of Fundamental Physics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2560-8_35
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2560-8_35
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6093-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2560-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive