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Immiscible silicate liquid partition coefficients: implications for crystal-melt element partitioning and basalt petrogenesis

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Abstract

This study investigates partitioning of elements between immiscible aluminosilicate and borosilicate liquids using three synthetic mixtures doped with 32 trace elements. In order to get a good spatial separation of immiscible liquids, we employed a high-temperature centrifuge. Experiments were performed at 1,050–1,150°C, 1 atm, in sealed Fe and Pt containers. Quenched products were analysed by electron microprobe and LA ICP-MS. Nernst partition coefficients (D’s) between the Fe-rich and Si-rich aluminosilicate immiscible liquids are the highest for Zn (3.3) and Fe (2.6) and the lowest for Rb and K (0.4–0.5). The plots of D values against ionic potential Z/r in all the compositions show a convex upward trend, which is typical also for element partitioning between immiscible silicate and salt melts. The results bear upon the speciation and structural position of elements in multicomponent silicate liquids. The ferrobasalt–rhyolite liquid immiscibility is observed in evolved basaltic magmas, and may play an important role in large gabbroic intrusions, such as Skaergaard, and during the generation of unusual lavas, such as ferropicrites.

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Acknowledgments

Dieter Rhede, Oona Appelt (GFZ Potsdam), and John Spratt (NHM London) are thanked for the help with electron microprobe analyses. Experimental work was supported by the DFG SPP 1055 grant to DBD (Di 431/23-1). IVV visits to NHM London were financed by CERCAMS, and a grant from EU SYNTHESYS programme. Comments of two anonymous reviewers helped us to improve the original version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 4.1, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Ilya V. Veksler

  2. Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry, Kosygin Str., 19, 117975, Moscow, Russia

    Alexander M. Dorfman

  3. Geo & Umwelt, Universität München, Theresienstrasse 41, 80333, Munich, Germany

    Alexander M. Dorfman & Donald B. Dingwell

  4. Centre for Ore Deposit Research and School of Earth Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 79, Hobart, TAS , 7001, Australia

    Leonid V. Danyushevsky

  5. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, C.F. Møllers Allé 110, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Jakob K. Jakobsen

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  1. Ilya V. Veksler
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  2. Alexander M. Dorfman
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  3. Leonid V. Danyushevsky
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  4. Jakob K. Jakobsen
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  5. Donald B. Dingwell
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Correspondence to Ilya V. Veksler.

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Communicated by J. Hoefs

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Veksler, I.V., Dorfman, A.M., Danyushevsky, L.V. et al. Immiscible silicate liquid partition coefficients: implications for crystal-melt element partitioning and basalt petrogenesis. Contrib Mineral Petrol 152, 685–702 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-006-0127-y

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