Phenocryst

About: Phenocryst is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4132 publications have been published within this topic receiving 158441 citations.

The 1996 Eruption of Karymsky Volcano, Kamchatka: Historical Record of Basaltic Replenishment of an Andesite Reservoir

Abstract: The simultaneous eruption in 1996 of andesite from Karymsky volcano and of basalt from the Academy Nauk vent 6km away appears to provide a case of mafic recharge of an andesite reservoir for which the time of recharge is exactly known and direct samples of the recharging magma are available. The explosive phreato-magmatic eruption of basalt was terminated in less than 24h, whereas andesite erupted continuously during the following 4 years. Detailed petrological study of volcanic ash, bombs and lavas of Karymsky andesite erupted during the period 1996–1999 provides evidence for basaltic replenishment at the beginning of the eruptive cycle, as well as a record of compositional variations within the Karymsky magma reservoir induced by basaltic recharge. Shortly after the beginning of the eruption the composition of the matrix glass of the Karymsky tephra became more mafic and then, within 2 months, gradually returned to its original state and remained almost constant for the following 3 years. Further evidence for basaltic replenishment is provided by the presence of xenocrysts of basaltic origin in the andesite of Karymsky. A conspicuous portion of the plagioclase phenocrysts in the Karymsky andesite has calcic cores, with compositions and textures resembling those of plagioclases in the Academy Nauk basalt. Similarly, the earlier portion of the andesite of the eruption sequence contains rare olivines, which occur as resorbed cores in pyroxenes. The composition of the olivine matches that of olivines in the Academy Nauk basalt. The sequence of events appears to be: (1) injection of basaltic magma into the Karymsky chamber with immediate, compensating expulsion of pre-existing chamber magma from the Karymsky central vent; (2) direct mixing of basaltic and andesitic magmas with dispersal of phenocrysts associated with the basalt throughout the andesite so that newly mixed magma appeared at the vent within 2 months; (3) re-establishment of thermal and chemical equilibrium within the reservoir involving crystallization in the new hybrid liquid, which returned the melt composition to ‘normal’, formed rims on inherited calcic plagioclase, and caused the resorption of dispersed olivine xenocrysts. Taken together, these findings indicate that the Karymsky magma reservoir was recharged by basalt at the onset of the 1996 eruptive cycle. The rapidity and thoroughness of mixing of the basalt with the preexisting andesite probably reflects the modest contrast in temperature, viscosity, and density between the two magmas.

A Regular Solution Model for Met-Aluminous Silicate Liquids: Applications to Geothermometry, Immiscibility, and the Source Regions of Basic Magmas

Abstract: Adopting a set of multioxide components and using published compositional data on olivineand plagioclase-liquid equilibria we have developed a 17 component regular solution model for met-aluminous silicate liquids. The partial molar excess free energies predicted from this model can be used together with phenocryst compositions as an effective geothermometer, with an approximate error of 20 °C (30 °C for olivine, 12 °C for plagioclase). The regular solution formulation is also successful in predicting liquid immiscibility at (1) high mole fractions of silica commonly observed in phase diagrams, and at (2) lower temperatures in lunar basalts and intermediate lavas. The model yields activities of silica which are consistent with those obtained from solid-liquid silica buffers in rocks which contain olivine and enstatite or quartz. From predicted activities of KAlSi3O8 in liquids coexisting with plagioclase a value is obtained for the limiting Henry's law activity coefficient of KAlSi3O8 in the solid. This coefficient agrees well with that inferred from plagioclase-sanidine equilibrium phenocryst assemblages in rhyolites. The activities of silica obtained from this model are used to place constraints on the pressure-temperature regions where various types of basic magmas are generated. In conjunction with plagioclase geothermometry an application is given where the pressure, temperature, and water content of an olivine andesite is predicted from the activity of silica.

Local and regional variation of MORB parent magmas: evidence from melt inclusions from the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge

Abstract: The development of petrogenetic models of igneous processes in the mantle is dependent on a detailed knowledge of the diversity of magmas produced in the melting regime. These primary magmas, however, undergo significant mixing and fractionation during transport to the surface, destroying much of the evidence of their primary diversity. To circumvent this problem and to determine the diversity of melts produced in the mantle, we used melt inclusions hosted in primitive plagioclase phenocrysts from eight mid-ocean ridge basalts from the axial and West Valleys of the Endeavour Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge. This area was selected for study because of the demonstrated close association of enriched (E-MORB) lavas and incompatible element enriched depleted (N-MORB) lavas. Rehomogenized melt inclusions from E-MORB, T-MORB, and N-MORB lavas have been analyzed by electron and ion microprobe for major and trace elements. The depleted and enriched lavas, as well as their melt inclusions, have very similar compatible element concentrations (major elements, Sr, Ni and Cr). Inclusion compositions are more primitive than, yet collinear with, the host lava suites. In contrast, the minor and trace element characteristics of melt inclusions from depleted and enriched lavas are different both in range and absolute concentration. N-MORB lavas contain both depleted and enriched melt inclusions, and therefore exhibit the largest compositional range (K2O: 0.01 to 0.4 oxide wt%, P2O5: <0.01 to 0.2 oxide wt%, LaN: 7 to 35, YbN: 1 to 13, and Ti/Zr: <100 to 1300). E-MORB lavas contain only enriched inclusions, and are therefore relatively homogeneous (K2O: 0.32 to 0.9 oxide wt %, P2O5: 0.02 to 0.35 oxide wt%, LaN: 11 to 60, YbN: 4 to 21, and Ti/Zr: ∼100). In addition, the most primitive E-32 inclusions are similar in composition to the most enriched inclusions from the depleted hosts. Major element data for melt inclusions from both N-MORB and E-MORB lavas suggest that the magmas lie on a low pressure cotectic, consistent with a petrogenesis including fractional crystallization. However, the minor and trace element compositions in melt inclusions vary independently of the major element composition implying an alternative history. When fractionation-corrected, inclusion compositions correlate with their host glass composition. Hence, the degree of enrichment of the lavas is a function of the composition of aggregated melts, not of processing in the upper mantle or lower crust. Based on this fact, the lava suites are not produced from a single parent magma, but from a suite of primary magmas. The chemistry of the melt inclusions from the enriched lavas is consistent with a derivation from variable percentages of partial melting within the spinel stability field by a process of open system (continuous or critical) melting assuming a depleted lherzolite source veined with clinopyroxenite. The low percentage melts are dominantly enriched melts of the clinopyroxenite. In contrast, the depleted lavas were created by melting of a harzburgite source, possibly fluxed with a fluid enriched in K, Ba and the LREE. Such a source was likely melted up to or past the point at which all of its clinopyroxene was consumed. This set of characteristics is consistent with a scenario by which diverse melts produced at different depths travel through the melting regime to the base of the crust without homogenizing en route. The homogeneous major element characteristics are created in the lower crust by fractional crystallization and reaction with lower crustal gabbros. Therefore, the degree of decoupling between major and trace element characteristics of the melt inclusions (and lavas) is dictated by the reaction rate of the melts with the materials in the conduit walls, as well as the residence times and flux rate, in the upper mantle and lower crust.

The record of magma chamber processes in plagioclase phenocrysts at Thera Volcano, Aegean Volcanic Arc, Greece

Abstract: Lavas and pyroclastic rocks throughout the volcanic stratigraphy of the Tertiary-Quaternary volcanic complex of Thera in the Aegean island arc display inhomogenous plagioclase populations and phenocryst resorption textures, interpreted as indicative of magma mixing. Plagioclase zoning characteristics studied by Nomarski and laser interferometry techniques establish three main categories of plagioclase: (i) inherited plagioclase (nucleated in endmember prior to initial mixing event) (ii) in situ plagioclase (nucleated in mixed or hybrid magma) and (iii) xenocrystic plagioclase. Nomarski contrast images and linearized compositional zoning profiles reveal striking differences between calcic and sodic plagioclases, depending on the composition of the lava in which they are hosted. These differences reflect the contrasting effects of changes in physical-chemical parameters in basic vis-a-vis more acidic melts during magma mixing and/or influx of new magma into the subvolcanic magma chamber, as well as the influence of magma chamber dynamics on plagioclase equilibration. Variations in bulk major and trace element abundances of Thera volcanic products reflect the dominant overprint of crystal fractionation, but decoupling between major and trace element fractionation models and variations in incompatible trace element distributions are all indicative of magma mixing processes, consistent with compositional and textural zoning in plagioclases.