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Partition coefficients for olivine-melt and orthopyroxene-melt systems

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Abstract

Thermodynamic analysis shows that olivinemelt and orthopyroxene-melt partition coefficients for many elements should be approximately linear functions of DMg. These simple relationships can be combined with the constraint of mineral stoichiometry to allow the direct calculation of partition coefficients for these elements if the major element chemistry of the melt phase is known. A large dataset of published and unpublished experimental mineral-melt pairs for compositions in the range komatiite to andesite has allowed the determination of the empirical constants required for this calculation. The precision of these parameterisations is demonstrated by comparing the values calculated with those observed. Comparison of phenocryst-matrix partition coefficients with those measured from experimental mineral-melt pairs demonstrates that experimentally determined partition coefficients are equivalent to those in magmatic processes. There are therefore no significant kinetic factors precluding magmatic partitioning being reproduced on an experimental timescale. The model provides a set of simple tests for equilibrium and enables the chemical evolution of a magma fractionating olivine or orthopyroxene to be modelled. An empirical equation for distinguishing orthopyroxene from other low-Ca pyroxenes in chemical analyses of experimental runs is also presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EQ, Cambridge, UK

    Paul Beattie

  2. Grant Institute of Geology, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3JW, Edinburgh, UK

    Clifford Ford

  3. Systems Department, Standard Life Assurance Company, George Street, EH2 2XZ, Edinburgh, UK

    Douglas Russell

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  1. Paul Beattie
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  2. Clifford Ford
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  3. Douglas Russell
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Beattie, P., Ford, C. & Russell, D. Partition coefficients for olivine-melt and orthopyroxene-melt systems. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 109, 212–224 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306480

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