Abstract
Growth of crystals from magma is one of the fundamental processes of geology. Changes in composition during growth produce a zonation resembling “tree rings” which is interpreted in a somewhat similar manner (although the periods of growth resulting in zones are not necessarily annual). In principle, zoned crystals have immense potential as tracers of magmatic processes. Major and trace elements have, at least in theory, the potential to record different aspects of the growth phenomenon. Complications result from the fact that crystallization is inherently a non-equilibrium process and the chemistry of the precipitating phase may therefore be influenced by kinetic factors. This zoning is present in a wide variety of rocks and has been studied for well over 100 years, yet it remains a challenging and perplexing subject.
Modern methods of microanalysis and imaging techniques are providing a new view of zoning. The application of interference imaging including Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast (NDIC) has provided hither-to-unknown information regarding the extreme complexity of magmatic zoning. Dissolution and reaction are extremely common features in magmatic phenocrysts. The complexity of typical zoning appears to indicate that phenocrysts move around a magma chamber and may alternatively experience (cycle through) different liquids, experiencing different temperatures and pressures during growth - as was posited by Homma in his classic work of 1932.
It is generally accepted,a priori, that crystal growth is a deterministic process and that zoning results from a complex interaction of growth and diffusion processes. New work indicates that, in many instances, zonation is further complicated by dissolution and reaction phenomena. In spite of the complexity of the processes, it should be possible to model plagioclase growth using continuous differential equations; yet, oscillatory zoning of magmatic plagioclase has, so far, defied detailed analysis or explanation. Published models at the present time typically assume a relatively simple growth mechanism and do not yield realistic zoning patterns or profiles. A possible exception is the constitutional supercooling model, but one key assumption of this model - that composition is more important than temperature in determining the initial supercooled crystal composition - has yet to be proven.
Utilizing new techniques recently developed for the analysis of dynamical systems (“chaos” theory), along with computer experiments, it is possible to extract previously unrecognizable kinetic information contained in zoning patterns. Detailed analysis of oscillatory zoning in magmatic plagioclase from several volcanoes indicates that the plagioclase- magma system is a deterministic nonlinear system whose attractor has a relatively low dimension. Patterns of zonation are not consistent with random or stochastic processes.
The ultimate objective of current studies of plagioclase is to find a method of decoding the zonation so that we may read the life history of a crystal treating the zones like ”pages” of a book.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Allegre CJ, Provost A, Jaupart C (1981) Oscillatory zoning: a pathological case of crystal growth. Nature 294: 223–294
Anderson AT Jr (1983) Oscillatory zoning of plagioclase: Nomarski interference contrast microscopy of etched sections. Amer Mineral 68:125–29
Anderson AT Jr (1984) Probable relations between plagioclase zoning and magma dynamics, Fuego Volcano, Guatemala. Amer Mineral 69: 660–676
Baker G L, Goolub JP (1990) Chaotic Dynamics: An Introduction, Cambridge University Press.
Blundy J D, Shimizu N (1991) Trace element evidence for plagioclase recycling in calcalkaline magmas. Earth Planet Sci Letters 102: 178–197
Bottinga Y, Kudo A, Weill D (1966) Some observations on oscillatory zoning and crystallization of magmatic plagioclase. Amer Mineral 51: 792–806
Brandeis G, Jaupart C (1987) Crystal sizes in intrusions of different dimensions: Constraints on the cooling regime and the crystallization kinetics, Magmatic Processes: Physicalchemical Principles. The Geochemical Society, Special Publication No 1, Ed. B. O. Mysen
Bryan WB, Pearce TH (1993) Plagioclase zoning in selected lavas from holes 834B, 839B, and 841B. O. D. P. Leg 137 volume, Journ Geophys Res (accepted for publication)
Clark A H, Pearce TH, Roeder PL, Wolfson I (1986) Oscillatory zoning and other microstructures in magmatic olivine and augite: Nomarski interference contrast observations on etched polished surfaces. Amer Mineral 71: 734–741
Farmer JD, Sidorovich JJ (1987) Predicting chaotic time series. Physical Review Letters 59: no. 8,845–848
Farmer JD, Sidorowich JJ (1988) Exploiting chaos to predict the future and reduce noise. Unpublished manuscript, version 1.2
Fowler, AD, Stanley HE, Daccord G (1989) Disequilibrium silicate mineral textures; fractal and non-fractal features. Nature 341 (6238): 134–138
Garcia-Ruiz JM, Santos A, Alfaro EJ (1987) Oscillatory growth rates in single crystals growing under diffusional control. J G R 84: 555–558
Ghiorso MS (1987) Chemical mass transfer in magmatic processes III. Crystal growth, chemical diffusion and thermal diffusion in multicomponent silicate melts. Contrib Mineral Petrol 96: 291–313
Glass L, Mackey MC (1988) From Clocks to Chaos: The Rhythms of Life. Princeton University Press: pp 248
Grassberger P, Procaccia I (1983) Measuring the strangeness of strange attractors. Physica 9D: 189–208
Haase CS, Chadam J, Feinn D, Ortoleva P (1980) Oscillatory zoning in plagioclase feldspar. Science, 209: 212–214
Harloff C (1927) Zonal structure in plagioclases. Leidsche Geol Med 2: 99–114
Higman S, Pearce TH (1991a) Preliminary applications of chaos theory to plagioclase zoning. GAC-MAC, Annual Meeting Toronto
Higman S, Pearce TH (1991b) Applications of chaos theory to crystal morphology and zoning in magmatic plagioclase. GSA, Annual Meeting, San Diego
Higman S, Pearce TH (1992) Nonlinear dynamics and crystal growth from the morphology of oscillatory zoned plagioclase. A.G.U. Annual Meeting, Montreal, EOS, April 7 1992, 353
Higman S, Pearce TH (1993a) A nonlinear dynamical approach to the growth of oscillatory zoned magmatic plagioclase. Geol Assoc Canada, abstracts, 18, A-44
Higman S, Pearce TH (1993b) Spatiotemporal dynamics in oscillatory zoned magmatic plagioclase. Geophys Res Letters (accepted for publication June 1993)
Higman S (1992) An application of nonlinear dynamics to the theory of oscillatory zoned magmatic plagioclase: an empirical approach. Unpubl. M.Sc thesis, Queen’s University 185
Homma F (1932) Über das Ergebnis von Messungen an zonaren Plagioklasen aus Andesitien mit Hilfe des Universaldrehtisches. Sweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 12: 345–352
Kirkpatrick RJ, Klein L, Uhlmann DR, Hays JF (1979) Rates and processes of crystal growth in the system anorthite-albite. J Geophys Res 84: 3671–3676
Kolisnik AM, Pearce TH (1991) Magma-mixing textures from intermediate rocks of Volcan Popocatepetl, Mexico. GAC-MAC Annual Meeting, Toronto
Kolisnik AM (1990) Phenocryst zoning and heterogeneity in andesites and dacites of Volcan Popocatepetl, Mexico. Unpubl M.Sc Queen’ University, 219p
Langmuir CH (1980) A major and trace element approach to basalts. Ph.D. thesis, S.U.N.Y, Stony Brook, 351 pp
Langmuir CH, Hansen GN (1985) Plagioclase saturation surface. Unpublished manuscript
Lasaga AC (1982) Toward a master equation in crystal growth. Amer J Sci 282: 1264– 1288.
Lofgren G (1974a) An experimental study of plagioclase crystal morphology: isothermal crystallization. Amer Jour Sci 274: 243–273.
Lofgren G (1974b) Temperature induced zoning in synthetic plagioclase feldspar. In: The Feldspars, Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, edited by W.S. MacKenzie and J. Zussman. Manchester University Press, Manchester, 362–375
Lofgren G (1980) Experimental studies on the dynamic crystallization of silicate melts. Chapter 11 in Physics of Magmatic Processes, Hargraves RB, (ed). Princeton University Press
Lofgren GE, Norris PN (1981) Experimental duplication of plagioclase sieve and overgrowth textures. Geol Soc Am, Abstr Prog
Loomis TP (1979) An empirical model for plagioclase equilibrium in hydrous melts. Geochem Cosmochim Acta 43: 1753– 1759
Loomis TP (1982) Numerical simulations of crystallization processes of plagioclase in complex melts: the origin of major and oscillatory zoning in plagioclase. Contrib Mineral Petrol 81: 219–229
May RM (1976) Simple mathematical models with very complicated dynamics. Nature 261:461–467
Middleton G (1990) Non-linear dynamics and chaos: Potential applications in the earth sciences. Geoscience Canada 17: no. 1, 3–11
Middleton G (1991) editor. Non-linear dynamics, chaos, and fractals. Short Course Notes volume 9, Geological Association of Canada 235 pp
Nixon GT, Pearce TH (1987) Laser interferometry study of oscillatory zoning in plagioclase: The record of magma mixing and phenocryst recycling in calc-alkaline magma chambers, Iztaccihuatl volcano, Mexico. Amer Mineral 72:1144–1162
Nomarski G (1955) Microinterferometrie differentielle a ondes polarisees. J de Physique et la Radium 16: 9–13
Nomarski G, Weill AR (1954) Sur 1’observation des figures de croissance des cristaux par les methodes interferentielles a deux ondes, Bulletin de la Societe Francaise de Minearalogie et de Cristallographie 77: 840–868
Ortoleva P, Chadam J, Merino E, Sen A (1987) Geochemical self-organization, I. Reactiontransport feedbacks and modelling approach. Amer Jour Sci 287: 979–1007
Packard NH, Crutchfield JP, Farmer JD, Shaw RS (1980) Geometry from a time series. Physical Review Letters 45: 712–716
Pearce TH (1982a) Laser interferometric observations of plagioclase from Mt St Helens. Geol Assoc Can - Mineral Assoc Can, Abstr. Program 7: 72
Multiple frequency laser interference microscopy: a new technique for mineralogy. Geol Assoc Can - Mineral Assoc Can, Abstr. Program7: 72
Observations of plagioclase phenocrysts from andesites using multiple frequency laser interference microscopy. Geol Soc Amer, Abstr. Program 14: 585
Pearce TH (1978) Olivine fractionation equations for basaltic and ultrabasic liquids. Nature 276: 771–774
Pearce TH (1984a) Optical dispersion and zoning in magmatic plagioclase: Laser interference observations. Can Mineral 22: 383–390
Pearce TH (1984b) The analysis of zoning in magmatic crystals with emphasis on olivine. Contrib Mineral Petrol 86:149–154
Pearce TH (1984c) Multiple Frequency Laser Interference Microscopy: A new technique. The Microscope 32: no. 2, 69–81 (with colour cover photo)
Pearce TH (1993) A simple deterministic model of oscillatory zoning in magmatic plagioclase Geol Assoc Canada Abstracts, 18: A–81
Pearce TH, Clark AH (1989) Nomarski interference contrast observations of textural details in volcanic rocks. Geology 17: 757–759
Pearce TH Kolisnik AM (1990) Observations of plagioclase zoning using interference imaging. Earth Science Reviews 19: 9–26
Pearce TH Russell JK, Wolfson I (1987a) Laser-interference and Nomarski interference imaging of zoning profiles in plagioclase phenocrysts from the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington. Amer Mineral 72:1131–1143
Pearce TH Griffin MP, Kolisnik AM (1987b) Magmatic crystal stratigraphy and constraints on magma chamber dynamics: Laser interference results on individual phenocrysts. Jour of Geophys Res 92: pt. 13,13,745–13,752
Peat FD (1990) Einstein’s Moon - Bell’s Theorem and the Curious Quest for Quantum Reality. Contemporary Books, Inc, Chicago
Phemister J (1934) Zoning in plagioclase feldspar. Min Mag 23: 541–555
Provost A (1985) Oscillatory zoning in plagioclase: a logical issue after rapid ascent. EOS 66: 362
Ruelle D (1979) Sensitive dependence on initial conditions and turbulent behavior of dynamical systems. Annals N.Y. Acad Sci 316: 408–416
Shimizu N (1990) The oscillatory trace element zoning of augite phenocrysts. EarthScience Reviews 29: 27–37
Sibley DF, Vogel TA, Walker BM, Byerly G (1976) The origin of oscillatory zoning in plagioclase: A diffusion and growth controlled model. Amer Jour Sci 276: 275–284
Simakin AG (1983) A simple quantitative model for rhythmic zoning in crystals.Geokhimiya 12: 1720–1729.(English translation by Scripta Publishing 1984).
Shaw HR (1987) The periodic structure of the natural record, and nonlinear dynamics. EOS 68: 1651–1665
Shimizu N (1990) The oscillatory trace element zoning of augite phenocrysts. Earth Science Reviews 29: 27–37
Smith JV, Brown WL (1988) Feldspar Minerals.Volume 1 Crystal Structures, Physical, Chemical and Microtextural Properties.Second revised and extended version. Springer Verlag, Berlin, 828 pp
Sugihara G, May RM (1990) Nonlinear forecasting as a way of distinguishing from measurement error in time series. Nature 344: 734–741
Swinney HL, Roux JC (1985) Chemical chaos. In Non-equilibrium Dynamics in Chemical Systems.Vidal C, Pacault A, (eds) Springer-Verlag
Takens F (1980) Detecting strange attractors in turbulence. In: Lecture Notes in Mathematics, Springel-Verlag, New York, 366–381
Tiller WA (1977) On the cross-pollenation of crystallization ideas between metallurgy and geology. Phys Chem Minerals 2: 125–151.
Tsuchiyama A (1985) Dissolution kinetics of plagioclase in the melt of the system diopside-albite-anorthite and origin of dusty plagioclase in andesites. Contrib Mineral Petrol 89: 1–16
Vance JA (1965) Zoning in igneous plagioclase: patchy zoning. J Geol 73: 636–651
Wang Y, Merino E (1993) Oscillatory magma crystallization by feedback between the concentrations of the reactant species and mineral growth rates. Journ Petrol 34: 369–382
Wiebe AR (1968) Plagioclase stratigraphy: a record of magmatic conditions and events in a granite stock. Amer Jour Sci 266: 690–703
Wolf A, Swift JB, Swinney HL, Vastano JA (1985) Determining Lyapunov exponents from a time series. Physica D 16: 285–31
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pearce, T.H. (1994). Recent Work on Oscillatory Zoning in Plagioclase. In: Parsons, I. (eds) Feldspars and their Reactions. NATO ASI Series, vol 421. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1106-5_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1106-5_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4483-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1106-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive