The Bowens Reaction Series and Minerals Stability (Weathering)

1. Overview
The Bowens Reaction Series (for brevity we will further refer to it as the BRS)
is a generalized way of looking at some of the more common silicate minerals
crystallizing from magma at high temperatures (1000 600 degrees Celsius) and
pressures. BRS is a means to show how silicate minerals (the most common minerals in
the Earths crust) can become more complex as pressure and temperature within a magma
chamber decreases. There are two mineral series that are displayed on the BRS, one is
Discontinuous and the other is Continuous.
The first mineral series that we will investigate is the Discontinuous Series, and
it is typically represented with Olivine as the initial mineral to come out of the magma
solution at 1000 degrees Celsius. Other minerals may crystallize from the molten rock
simultaneously. Because the series of minerals is not dependent on one mineral
depleting the magma of certain elements before another mineral can form, it is
called discontinuous.
The second mineral series is the Continuous Series, which forms Plagioclase
Feldspars. As we know from our mineral studies, Anorthite is a Calcium-rich
plagioclase and Albite is a Sodium-rich plagioclase. As we look at high pressure and
temperature, we see that Calcium is the element that fits into the silica tetrahedra
structure first. As the Calcium is depleted form the magma, Sodium will substitute for
the Calcium. Plagioclase is formed through these changes in pressure, temperature, and
absorption of Calcium or Sodium. Again, the series is continuous because the
plagioclase is the same mineral group being formed with variations in Calcium and
Sodium content.

2. The Discontinuous Series

The Discontinuous Series of Minerals in the Bowens Reaction Series (BRS) goes
from: Olivine, to Pyroxene, to Amphibole, to Biotite, to Muscovite, to Alkali
Feldspar and to Quartz. We see several things happen as these minerals are formed.
First we see that Magnesium and Iron are being absorbed into the silica tetrahedra with
very minimum amounts of silica used at these high pressures and temperatures.
Olivine forms at high temperatures and pressures. It actually is metastable on
the Earths surface. This means that it will alter quickly via weathering or over time.
Several people have complained to jewelers that the gem Peridot turns from an apple
green color to a yellow color with time. This is because the internal structure of the
mineral olivine (of which Peridot is made) will start to alter.

A very interesting thing that we should note about the Discontinuous Series is
that as the pressure and temperature lowers, the silica tetrahedra become more
complex as the minerals crystallize from the magma. Olivine is a single silica
tetrahedra, a nesosilicate (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. As pressure and temperature slightly
decrease, pyroxene forms. Pyroxene is a mineral group that forms a single-chain
silicate tetrahedra structure with more silica in the structure than Olivine has. An example
is NaFeSi2O6 Acmite , Sodium Iron Silicate, a Pyroxene. Notice the increase in the
number of Silicon and Oxygen atoms. That is because the number of silica tetrahedra
has increased.
As we continue examining the minerals that form as the pressure and
temperature start to decrease, we see the mineral group, Amphiboles, start to form.
These are double-chain silica tetrahedra minerals. One such mineral is Hornblende,
which has 8 silicon atoms and 22 oxygen atoms as well as calcium, sodium, magnesium
and iron. These elements fit into available sites in the double chain silica tetrahedra.
Looking at the next mineral in the series, Biotite, we see 3 silicon and 12 oxygen
atoms to form the sheet silicates. Biotite also has Potassium, Aluminum, Iron and
Magnesium. The sheets of silica tetrahedra allow for larger atoms like potassium to lay
between the sheets. This makes Biotite easy to tear into thin layers. Biotite is generally
black in color. It is a Mafic mineral because it is dark in color and has abundant Iron
and Magnesium. The other minerals mentioned above, Olivine, Pyroxene and
Amphibole, are Mafic minerals too because of their iron and magnesium content, and
they are typically dark to black in color.
The next mineral in the series is Muscovite (which lacks the iron and
magnesium of Biotite). It too is a sheet silicate with 3 silicon and 12 oxygen atoms with
potassium and aluminum instead of the iron and magnesium. Muscovite is NOT a
Mafic mineral.
Potassium is now abundant in the magma and temperatures have lowered, but are
still above 600 degrees Celsius. The smaller elements like Calcium, Sodium, Iron and
Magnesium are mostly depleted from the magma. They have been used to form the
Mafic minerals. Now the bulky potassium atom can rule the magma! Basically this
means that the silica tetrahedra will begrudgingly use the cumbersome potassium.

We now will see alkali feldspars forming. The potassium is helping to make
orthoclase and microcline feldspars that are typically pink in color. The Calcium and
Sodium atoms have been used to form Plagioclase and other minerals at great
pressure and temperature, some Sodium Plagioclase, Albite, will form as the alkali
feldspars form. This is how we get both alkali feldspar and plagioclase feldspar as
major mineral constituents in granites.
Lastly, we see pure silica (quartz) forming. It will crystallize in granites as gray
glassy crystals. What has happened to the magma now, is that the atoms have been used
to form other minerals, so the silica tetrahedra are leftovers forming the quartz. The silica
is used with the various atoms based on the temperature, pressure and the available
elements that are in the magma.
3. The Continuous Series
Plagioclase is a feldspar group of minerals. It is the mineral that defines the
Continuous Series of the BRS. As we look at high temperature and pressures, we see
that the Calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar, Anorthite, Oligoclase and Labradorite. The
more Mafic the magma, the more Calcic the plagioclase will be. This is based on the
magma chemistry, pressure and temperature. As the magma cools and or pressure
decreases, the silica tetrahedra will start absorbing the available Sodium along with
Calcium.
Once the Calcium is depleted from the magma, the Sodium plagioclase,
Albite will form. Between the formation of Calcium-rich plagioclase and the Sodiumrich plagioclase end members, some plagioclases will have both Calcium and Sodium. It
is not an all or nothing type of event. The Magma cooling almost appears to be
opportunistic when trying to satisfy the relationship between the cations (positively
charged ions) and the anions (negatively charged ions) that are in the magma.
One important thing to remember about the two mineral series, is that you
have Mafic minerals forming at the same time that you have the Plagioclase
minerals forming. Earlier we said that that a more Mafic magma will have more a
Calcic Plagioclase. This is because the magma has these minerals forming at the
same time under similar temperature and pressure and because the Calcium atom

will fit more easily into the Plagioclase silica tetrahedra when there is high heat and
pressure.
4. Minerals Stability (Weathering)
Minerals weather from several factors. One important factor that helps determine
the rate of weathering, is the condition under which the mineral formed. Deep within the
Earth, the pressure and temperature is much different than at the Earths surface. Once
many of these minerals reach the surface, they are in a hostile environment and
weather rapidly, at least compared with other minerals.
Again the BRS Discontinuous Series shows Olivine to Pyroxene to Amphibole
to Biotite, Muscovite, Alkali Feldspar and Quartz forming. This list is arranged in
this order based on highest heat and greatest pressure first, and then both decrease down
the list of minerals. This means that Olivine is the least stable and Quartz is the
most stable mineral at the Earths surface and weathering of these minerals show
this.
Olivine will rapidly weather releasing its iron and magnesium. Pyroxene is not
far behind and rapidly weathers to hematite (iron oxide). As we move down the list we
see that Micas (Biotite and Muscovite) will weather to clays, and that Feldspars will
weather to clays also (specifically, feldspar will weather to the mineral kaolinite). Last
on the list is quartz, which is the slowest to weather.
The BRS shows a relationship between the first minerals to form under great
heat and pressure to be the first minerals to weather at the Earths surface.
Conclusion
The BRS not only shows us the order in which several common silicate
minerals form from a magma, but it also shows us the order that we can expect
minerals to weather. It shows us how the Discontinuous Series of minerals first form
Mafic minerals and as the magma is depleted of the iron and magnesium, the Felsic
minerals can form. We also see that the Mafic minerals will form at the same time as
the Calcium-rich Plagioclase, and as the magma becomes depleted in iron, magnesium
and calcium, and as the pressure and temperature decrease, Alkali Feldspar, Muscovite,

Quartz, and Albite (Sodium-rich Plagioclase) will form. Interestingly, these two types of
feldspars and quartz are important minerals that comprise many plutonic and volcanic
igneous rocks.

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