Petrography

GS 4226
Petrology - Introduction
Some Definitions
Petra Greek for rock
Logos Greek for disclosure or explanation
Petrology -The branch of geology dealing with the origin,
occurrence, structure, and history of rocks, especially igneous
and sedimentary rocks.

Igneous rock: a rock that solidifies from molten or
partially molten material (ie magma).

Sedimentary rock: a rock that results from
consolidation of loose sediment or chemicals
precipitating from solution at or near the earths
surface; or organic rock consisting of the
secretions or remains of plants and animals.

Metamorphic rock: rock derived from pre-existing
rocks by mineralogical, chemical or structural
changes (especially in the solid-state).
Note: Some borderline situations and rock types do
exist. They are not common compared to the
overall percentage of rocks in existence eg (1)
volcanic tuffs, igneous or sedimentary, (2)
serpentinite Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 from low T seafloor
alteration, igneous or metamorphic.
Classification can be aided using Table 1-1
(1) Outcrop Characteristics
(2) Textures (general)
(3) Examples of Minerals
Abundance of Different Rock Types
There are several schemes and classifications.
(1) The abundance of the 3 rock groups on the continents
Sedimentary ~66%
Igneous + Metamorphic ~34% (bulk is igneous)
(2) If we consider the ocean sediments then some of the schemes
have sedimentary rocks as high as 80%.
(3) Note on Figure 1-1 the relationship with time. As you may
have learned in Stratigraphy, there are very large differences in
time due to erosion or non-deposition.
Igneous Petrology
Petrology - is one of the key courses for a geologist
- you must be able to interpret the rocks crystallization and
chemical history and therefore have to familiarize yourself with the
Tools of Petrology.

Tools - [A] Petrography
Petrography is the microscopic identification and
interrelationships of mineral grains in the fabric of a rock.
Eg: When you finish studying igneous rocks this term you will
develop the feeling that most hand specimens and slides are made
up of 2 basic types of mineral assemblages.
1) Quartz, K-Feldspars, Na-Plagioclase and Micas or
2) Ca-Plagioclase, Pyroxenes, Amphiboles
The former are usually light in colour while the latter are dark.
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Tools - [B] Phase Diagrams
Igneous Rocks are rocks that solidify from molten or partially molten
material ie, from magma.
Therefore, a very important tool is experimental and observational
High Temperature Geochemistry and the use of Phase Diagrams.
In this course we will examine most of the major igneous rock forming
mineral assemblages using these two tools.
As a brief start, lets examine something you should be familiar with.
In the 1920s N.L. Bowen noted that under a variety of changing
temperature conditions, a set group of minerals always crystallized in
the same order from a melt. (P50-54 Jackson)
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What is important here is to look at the details and interrelationships of
the mineral families.
Eg: (a) Why are Olivine and the Plagioclase Group of minerals
similar in behavior [Solid Solution Series]?
(b) Why are they Different?
We will examine each of the systems, examining the controls to the
formation of mineral phases
Magma Differentiation
(1) Fractional Crystallization
The Role of Gravity and Density
(a) Basaltic magma has density of 2.7 g/cm
3
while early crystals of Olivine or
Pyroxene are 3.3 g/cm
3
(i) In large chambers these sink and are removed
(ii) Magma becomes lighter; chemical components are missing
(iii) Light components like leucite (2.5 g/cm
3
) float

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Magma Differentiation - cont.
(b) Magma changes composition with crystallization and individual
mineral phases change composition with time as early ingredients are
used up. We use binary phase diagrams to trace these changes
(2) Filter Differentiation or Filter Press Action
Flowing magma enters fractures. Crystals are blocked while the crystal-
free magma continues. Crystals settling rearrange and tend to expel free
liquid (filter press). Less dense felsic/granitic magmas often separate and
float to the top of the chamber, cool and form a cap.
(3) Flow Differentiation
In flowing moving pipes, early formed crystals collect and orient in the
middle or center of the pipe- like stirring beaker.
(4) Zoning
Incomplete reactions - lack of diffusion. Cores or crystals hive higher
temperature or different compositions than the rims. Use up certain
ingredients first, then can only make residual minerals.
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Magma Differentiation - cont.
(5) Liquid Immiscibility - eg Oil & Water
Cool a magma and some ingredients separate
eg - sulphide melt
-carbonatites separate from mafic alkalines
- felsic blobs in ultramafics
Immiscibility appears to need :
high K; low H
2
O; P under 4 Kbars; < 55 % SiO
2
and
high Si/Al
(6) Volatiles
Late-stage differentiation mechanism by gaseous transfer, secondary
boiling (flashing). If gas rises it changes the residual melt composition.
Some elements concentrate in the gas phase (eg: Na, Cl, F, Mn, Ti, Rb,
La, Ce, Y, Zr, U) and will enrich upward along with SiO
2
in the magma
chamber. Others elements prefer the melt (eg: Ca, Mg, Cr, Fe, P,K,B)
and will be enriched downward in the chamber.
Eg: Na depletion due to gas stripping in deeper Andesitic magmas. We
can analyze elements and use this to tell magma depth conditions.
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Magma Differentiation - cont.
(7) Assimilation
- Melting and fractional crystallization of host rocks.
- Contaminants
(8) Magma mixing
- Diffusional process
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