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EVOLUTION OF MAGMAS
FRACTIONATION & FRACTIONAL CRYSTALLIZATION
¥ Systematic Variations in Chemical Composition
¥ Result from Crystalliztion of Observed Minerals
¥ ÒFractional CrystallizationÓ
Trend of Liquid in composition space called liquid line of descent.
Example: MgO content in the parent basalt (< 10% MgO)
Removal of Olivine (50% MgO) and Augite (14% MgO) lowers MgO in resulting
magma.
Parent Basalt - 5% olivine - 8% augite = DaughterBasalt
10% MgO - 0.05*50% MgO - 0.08*14% MgO = (10-2.5-1.1)/.87
= 2.5% = 1.1% = 7.33% MgO
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PHASE RULE and BINARY PHASE DIAGRAMS
DEFINITIONS
System = isolated part of Universe.
>> Open to energy exchange
>> Closed to matter exchange (usually)
Components = Minimum number of chemically district species needed to describe
system.
Phase = Chemically and physically distinct part of system.
Liquidus = In T-X space, represents maximum solubility of solid in liquid. Liquid
only above, solid + liquid below.
Solidus = Solid-only below, liquid + solid above.
Eutectic = Mixture of phases with lowest possible melting point for those
components. Refers both to the Eutectic Composition and to the Eutectic
Temperature.
PHASE RULE of J. WILLARD GIBBS
F = c - p + 2 Closed system at equilibrium
F = Variance or degrees of freedom, equals number of intensive variables needed to
constrain system (T, P, or composition X).
c = Components p = Phases 2 = Temperature and Pressure
Condensed phase rule = isobaric or isothermal
F=c-p+1 (P or T fixed)
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Unary Systems = 1 Component (e.g., SiO2)
Liquid
Cristobalite
Beta-Q
Tridymite
Coesite
Alpha Stishovite
Qtz
c=1 p=1 F = 1-1+2 = 2 T and P both can vary, Divariant
c=1 p=2 F = 1-2+2 = 1 T or P can vary, Univariant
c=1 p=3 F = 1-3+2 = 0 T and P both Fixed, Invariant
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BINARY SOLID SOLUTIONS
Olivine (Forsterite-Fayalite) and Plagioclase (Anorthite-Albite)
b
a c
COMPOSITIONS read DIRECTLY off the BOTTOM scale on Diagram (%An).
>> ISOPLETH = Constant Composition
PROPORTIONS Calculated from LEVER RULE
%xtls = (100 * ab)/ac
% liq = (100 * bc)/ac
Equilibrium Crystallization: Final Plagioclase = Bulk Composition
Fractional Crystallization: Liquid and Plagioclase both evolve to compositions
more sodic (Na-rich) than bulk composition of system.
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SIMPLE BINARY EUTECTIC WITH NO Solid Solution
1553
1390
1274
eutectic
Diopside Anorthite
Example: Diopside-Anorthite system (A = Diopside, B = Anorthite).
Compositions from bottom of diagram %A or %B (Both Crystals and Liquid)
PROPORTIONS FROM LEVER RULE:
%xtls = (100 * a)/(a+b)
% liquid = (100 * b)/(a+b)
Equilibrium crystallization = Fractional crystallization
>> Liquid Follows Continuous Path
>> Crystal Compositions ÒJumpÓ
But Equilibrium melting NOT = Fractional melting
Equilibrium melting:
>> Liquid, Crystals Follows Continuous Path
Fractional melting:
>> Crystals Follows Continuous Path
>> Liquid Compositions ÒJumpÓ
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PERITECTIC SYSTEMS
Mg2Si04-SiO2
Forsterite Enstatite Cristobalite
Example: System Forsterite-SiO2 (A=Forsterite, B=SiO2, AB=Enstatite)
R = Reaction Point or ÒPeritecticÓ
Phase Rule at Peritectic: F= 2-3+1= 0 Invariant
EQUILIBRIUM CRYSTALLIZATION:
BC X : Ol+L, Ol+En+L (at Peritectic), Stop at Peritectic (Final= Ol+En)
BC Y : Ol+L, Ol+En+L (at Peritectic), En+L, En+SiO2 (at Eutectic)
How do we know which final assemblage?
>> If Bulk Comp to Left of AB, Final Assemblage Must = A + AB.
>> If Bulk Comp to Right of AB, Final Assemblage Must = AB + B.
FRACTIONAL CRYSTALLIZATION:
BOTH BC X & BC Y: OL+L --> EN+L (at Peritectic) --> En+SiO2+L (Eutectic)
WHY ?? NO olivine to react with liquid during fractional crystallization.
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TERNARY PHASE DIAGRAMS
