Igneous rock-forming minerals are the building blocks of volcanic and plutonic rocks. These minerals, ranging from to , crystallize from magma in a specific order based on temperature and composition. Understanding their formation is key to deciphering Earth's igneous processes.
explains how minerals crystallize as magma cools. This concept, along with and mineral chemistry, forms the basis for igneous rock classification. By studying these minerals, geologists can unravel the complex history of magmatic activity on Earth.
Major Igneous Minerals
Felsic and Mafic Minerals
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, feldspars ( and ), and micas ( and ) constitute the most common felsic minerals in igneous rocks
Pyroxenes ( and ), amphiboles (), and represent the primary mafic minerals found in igneous rocks
Accessory minerals including , , , and occur in smaller quantities but can be diagnostic for certain igneous rock types (granites)
Relative abundance of these minerals varies depending on the rock's
Felsic rocks contain more quartz and feldspars
Mafic rocks are rich in ferromagnesian minerals (olivine, pyroxenes)
Specialized Minerals and Textures
Feldspathoids ( and ) may replace quartz in silica-undersaturated igneous rocks (phonolites)
Texture and grain size of minerals in igneous rocks range from fine-grained () to coarse-grained (), depending on the cooling rate of the magma
Slow cooling results in coarse-grained textures (granite)
textures develop when large crystals (phenocrysts) form in a fine-grained groundmass (rhyolite porphyry)
Bowen's Reaction Series
Discontinuous and Continuous Series
Bowen's reaction series describes the order in which minerals crystallize from a cooling magma, divided into discontinuous and
represents the crystallization of mafic minerals: olivine → → → biotite
Each mineral reacts with the remaining melt to form the next mineral in the sequence
Continuous series depicts the gradual change in plagioclase composition from calcium-rich () to sodium-rich () as temperature decreases
Quartz and potassium feldspar crystallize last in the sequence, representing the most felsic end-members
Temperature and Melting Relationships
Temperature at which minerals begin to crystallize decreases from the top to the bottom of the series
Olivine forms at the highest temperatures (approximately 1200°C)
Quartz crystallizes at the lowest temperatures (approximately 700°C)
of rocks follows the reverse order of Bowen's reaction series
Most felsic minerals melt first (quartz, alkali feldspars)
Most mafic minerals melt last (olivine)
Series explains why certain mineral assemblages are common in igneous rocks while others are rare or nonexistent
Quartz and olivine rarely coexist in equilibrium due to their positions at opposite ends of the series
Magma Composition and Mineralogy
Silica Content and Mineral Assemblages
Initial composition of the magma, particularly its silica content, determines the types and proportions of minerals that will crystallize
Felsic magmas, rich in silica and alkali elements, produce rocks dominated by quartz, alkali feldspars, and plagioclase feldspars, with minor amounts of mafic minerals (granites)
Mafic magmas, low in silica but rich in iron and magnesium, crystallize rocks abundant in ferromagnesian minerals like olivine, pyroxenes, and calcium-rich plagioclase (basalts)
Intermediate magmas result in rocks with a balance of felsic and mafic minerals, often characterized by significant amounts of amphiboles and intermediate plagioclase (andesites)
Volatiles and Magma Differentiation
Presence of volatiles (H2O, CO2) in the magma can affect , promoting the formation of hydrous minerals like amphiboles and micas
Water-rich magmas may produce rocks with abundant biotite or hornblende (granodiorites)
Magma differentiation processes can alter the composition of the remaining melt, leading to a progression of different mineral assemblages as crystallization proceeds
can produce a series of increasingly felsic rocks from a single parent magma (gabbro → diorite → granite)
of crustal rocks can introduce new elements, affecting the final mineral assemblage (contaminated magmas)
Mineral Chemistry in Igneous Classification
Classification Systems and Mineral Ratios
Chemical composition of key minerals, particularly feldspars, is crucial in classifying igneous rocks using systems like the QAPF (Quartz, Alkali feldspar, Plagioclase, ) diagram
Ratio of mafic to felsic minerals, reflected in the , is a fundamental criterion for distinguishing between major igneous rock types (granite vs. gabbro)
Mineral chemistry influences the normative composition of igneous rocks, used in classification schemes like the TAS (Total Alkali-Silica) diagram for volcanic rocks
Presence or absence of certain indicator minerals (quartz, feldspathoids) directly relates to the silica saturation of the magma, a key factor in rock classification
in minerals, particularly plagioclase feldspars, can provide information about magma chamber processes and help refine rock classifications
indicates fractional crystallization (andesites)
may suggest magma mixing (hybrid rocks)
Trace element compositions in minerals can be used to infer magma source characteristics and tectonic settings, further aiding in the classification and interpretation of igneous rocks
High Nb and Ta in mafic minerals may indicate within-plate settings (alkali basalts)
Textural relationships between minerals, such as reaction rims or exsolution lamellae, can indicate disequilibrium conditions or subsolidus processes, influencing rock classification and petrogenetic interpretations
Reaction rims on olivine in more felsic rocks suggest magma mixing (mixed magma systems)
Perthitic textures in alkali feldspars indicate subsolidus exsolution (granites)