The Fractional Crystallization of Plagioclase in the Hat Creek Basalt: Observations and Theory
Anderson AT, Friedman R, Otto J, Vander WT, Wyszynski J. 1982. The Fractional Crystallization of Plagioclase in the Hat Creek Basalt: Observations and Theory. The Journal of Geology. 90(5):545-558
Because plagioclase may preserve a record of the solidification and differentiation within igneous rocks, the composition of plagioclase and extent of crystallization are presented in this paper. The rocks used in this study came from two natural cliff exposures in the Ht Creek basalt flow: one each in the early and middle units. A predictive model for plagioclase crystallization was used to compare with observations. Plagioclase from most of the segregation veins differed from that of the expected due to loss or gain of residual liquid and some inherited microphenocrysts carried in during vein formation.. The compositional spectrum of plagioclase in basaltic and gabbroic rocks was found to be able to substantiate closed system fractional crystallization.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Anderson, Alfred; Friedman, R; Otto, J; Vander, Wood; Wyszynski, J
- Units
- LAVO
- Keywords
- basalt, Crystallization, fractional, Hat Creek, Physical Sciences, plagioclase