Topic
Ultramafic rock
About: Ultramafic rock is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7591 publications have been published within this topic receiving 242536 citations. The topic is also known as: ultramafitite.
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TL;DR: In this paper, a table of mineral-liquid distribution coefficients for Ti, Zr, Y, and Nb for basic, intermediate and acid melt compositions were used to interpret variations of these elements, first in basalts and second during fractional crystallization from basic to acid magmas.
Abstract: Data from experimental runs, coexisting phases in ultramafic rocks and phenocryst-matrix pairs in volcanic rocks have been used to compile a table of mineral-liquid distribution coefficients for Ti, Zr, Y, and Nb for basic, intermediate and acid melt compositions. These values have then been used to interpret variations of these elements, first in basalts and second, during fractional crystallization from basic to acid magmas. For basalts, petrogenetic modelling of Zr/Y, Zr/Ti, and Zr/Nb ratios, when used in conjunction with REE, Cr and isotopic variations, suggests that: (1) the increase in Zr/Y ratio from mid-ocean ridge to within plate basalts and the low Zr/Nb ratios of alkalic basalts are due to (fluid controlled) source heterogeneities; (2) the low Zr and Zr/Y ratio of volcanic arc basalts results from high degree of partial melting of a depleted source; and (3) the high Zr and similar Zr/Y ratio of basalts from fast spreading relative to slow spreading ridges results from open-system fractional crystallization. Modelling of fractionation trends in more evolved rocks using Y-Zr, Ti-Zr and Nb-Zr diagrams highlights in particular the change in crystallizing mafic phases from island arcs (clinopyroxene-dominated) to Andean-type arcs (amphibole±biotite-dominated). These methods can be applied to altered lavas of unknown affinities to provide additional information on their genesis and eruptive environment.
2,680 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a new comprehensive chemical classification of the plutonic rocks is introduced, which enables geoscientists to focus on the magma, the most important concept in igneous petrology.
2,657 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks agreed at Montreal, August 1972, comments on the recommendations on which the UUGS subcommission agreed.
2,252 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the concentrations of 26 trace elements have been determined for zircons from a wide range of different rock types and reveal distinctive elemental abundances and chondrite-normalised trace element patterns for specific rock types.
Abstract: Trace element abundances in igneous zircons, as determined by electron microprobe and laser-ablation microprobe ICPMS analysis, are shown to be sensitive to source rock type and crystallisation environment. The concentrations of 26 trace elements have been determined for zircons from a wide range of different rock types and reveal distinctive elemental abundances and chondrite-normalised trace element patterns for specific rock types. There is a general trend of increasing trace element abundance in zircons from ultramafic through mafic to granitic rocks. The average content of REE is typically less than 50 ppm in kimberlitic zircons, up to 600–700 ppm in carbonatitic and lamproitic zircons and 2,000 ppm in zircons from mafic rocks, and can reach per cent levels in zircons from granitoids and pegmatites. Relatively flat chondrite-normalised REE patterns with chondrite-normalised Yb/Sm ratios from 3 to 30 characterise zircons from kimberlites and carbonatites, but Yb/Sm is commonly over 100 in zircons from pegmatites. Th/U ratios typically range from 0.1 to 1, but can be 100–1000 in zircons from some carbonatites and nepheline syenite pegmatites. The geochemical signatures characteristic of zircon from some rock types can be recognised in bivariate discriminant diagrams, but multivariate statistical analysis is essential for the discrimination of zircons from most rock types. Classification trees based on recursive partitioning techniques provide a rapid means of relating parent rock type to zircon trace element analysis; zircons from many rock types can be discriminated at confidence levels of 75% or more. These trees allow recognition of the provenance of detrital zircons from heavy mineral concentrates, and significantly enhance the usefulness of zircon in regional crustal studies and as an indicator mineral in mineral exploration.
1,660 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a mantle plume model is proposed for the formation and evolution of Late Archean basement rocks in the Eastern and Western Blocks based on a combination of extensive exposure of TTG gneisses, affinities of mafic rocks to continental tholeiitic basalts, presence of voluminous komatiitic rocks, dominant diaprism-related domiform structures, anticlockwise P-T paths, and a short time span from the primary emplacement of the TTG and ultramafic-to-maf
1,579 citations