The November 2002 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise,Réunion: tracking the pre-eruptive thermal evolution of magma using melt inclusions

The November 2002 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise in the Indian Ocean was typical of the activity of the volcano from 1999 to 2006 in terms of duration and volume of magma ejected. The first magma erupted was a basaltic liquid with a small proportion of olivine phenocrysts (Fo₈₁) that contain small numbers of melt inclusions. In subsequent flows, olivine crystals were more abundant and richer in Mg (Fo_83–84). These crystals contain numerous melt and fluid inclusions, healed fractures, and dislocation features such as kink bands. The major element composition of melt inclusions in this later olivine (Fo_83–84) is out of equilibrium with that of its host as a result of extensive post-entrapment crystallization and Fe²⁺ loss by diffusion during cooling. Melt inclusions in Fo₈₁ olivine are also chemically out of equilibrium with their hosts but to a lesser degree. Using olivine–melt geothermometry, we determined that melt inclusions in Fo₈₁ olivine were trapped at lower temperature (1,182 ± 1°C) than inclusions in Fo_83–84 olivine (1,199–1,227°C). This methodology was also used to estimate eruption temperatures. The November 2002 melt inclusion compositions suggest that they were at temperatures between 1,070°C and 1,133°C immediately before eruption and quenching. This relatively wide temperature range may reflect the fact that most of the melt inclusions were from olivine in lava samples and therefore likely underwent minor but variable amounts of post-eruptive crystallization and Fe²⁺ loss by diffusion due to their relatively slow cooling on the surface. In contrast, melt inclusions in tephra samples from past major eruptions yielded a narrower range of higher eruption temperatures (1,163–1,181°C). The melt inclusion data presented here and in earlier publications are consistent with a model of magma recharge from depth during major eruptions, followed by storage, cooling, and crystallization at shallow levels prior to expulsion during events similar in magnitude to the relatively small November 2002 eruption.     

Petrogenesis of basalts from the project FAMOUS area: experimental study from 0 to 15 kbars

Tholeiitic basalt glasses from the FAMOUS area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge are among the most primitive basaltic liquids reported from the ocean basins. One of the more primitive of these[Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺) = 0.68;Ni= 232ppm;TiO₂ = 0.61] glasses (572-1-1) was selected for an experimental investigation. This study found olivine to be the liquidus phase from 1 atm to 10.5 kbar where it is replaced by clinopyroxene. The sequence of appearance of phases at 1 atm pressure is olivine (1268°C), plagioclase (1235°C) and clinopyroxene (1135°C). The sample is multiply saturated at 10.5 kbar with olivine (Fo₈₈), clinopyroxene (Wo₃₂En₆₀Fs₉), and orthopyroxene (Wo₅En₈₃Fs₁₂). From the 1-atm data we have measured (FeO/MgO) olivine/(FeO*/MgO) liquid (K′_D) for olivine-melt pairs equilibrated at 12 temperatures in the range 1268–1205°C.K′_D varies from 0.30 at 1205°C to 0.27 at 1268°C. Analysis of high-pressure olivine melt pairs indicates a systematic increase inK′_D with pressure.Evaluation of the 1-atm experiments reveals that fractionation of olivine followed by olivine + plagioclase can generate much of the variation in major element chemistry observed in the FAMOUS basalt glasses. However, it cannot account for the entire spectrum of glass compositions — particularly with respect to TiO₂ and Na₂O. The variations in these components are such as to require different primary liquids.Comparison of clinopyroxene microphenocrysts/xenocrysts found in oceanic tholeiites with experimental clinopyroxenes reveal that the majority of those in the tholeiites may have crystallized from the magma at pressures greater than ～ 10 kbar and are not accidental xenocrysts. Clinopyroxene fractionation at high pressures may be a viable mechanism for fractionating basaltic magmas.The major and minor element mineral/meltK′_d's from our experiments have been used to model the source region residual mineralogy for given percentages of partial melting. These data suggest that ～20% partial melting of a lherzolite source containing 0–10% clinopyroxene can generate the major and minor element concentrations in the parental magmas of the Project FAMOUS basalt glasses.     

Experimental investigation of reaction coronas on olivine in Apollo 14 high-grade breccias

Reaction coronas of pyroxene ± ilmenite occur around clasts of olivine in Apollo 14 high-grade metamorphic breccias. In experiments of several months duration, there was no evidence of corona formation at 1000°C, but at 1050°, withfO₂ at or above Ilm-Ru-Fe and below Fe-Fe₁?x O, incipient coronas formed around Fo_50–70 in synthetic 14311 matrix. In addition, withfO₂ controlled by Ilm-Ru-Fe at 1050°C, the olivines reduced to Fo₆₈, En₆₉ + Fe. Reduction of olivine under these conditions is inconsistent with the calculated stability relations and is attributed to uncertainties in the activity coefficient for olivine or pyroxene. The experiments also suggest that vesicularity in the Apollo 14 high-grade breccias may correlate with the amount of glassy material in their unmetamorphosed precursors. The metamorphic event is attributed to burial in a hot ejecta blanket, such as that of the Imbrium event.     

Experimental reproduction of textures of chondrules

The textures of chondrules have been reproduced by crystallizing melts of three different compositions at 1 atm with cooling rates ranging from 400 to 20°C/min under 10^?9 to 10^?12 atmP_O2. A porphyritic olivine texture has been formed from a melt of olivine-rich composition (SiO₂ = 45 wt.%), a barred-olivine texture from melt of intermediate composition (SiO₂ = 47 wt.%), and radial-olivine texture from melt of pyroxene-rich composition (SiO₂ = 57 wt.%). The cooling rate for producing barred olivine is most restricted; the rate ranges from 120 to 50°C/min. Other textures can be formed with wider ranges of cooling rate. The results of the experiments indicate that some of the major types of textures of chondrules can be formed with cooling rate of about 100°C/min. With this cooling rate, the texture varies depending on the composition of melt.     

Thermal diffusivity of olivine

The thermal diffusivity of a naturally occurring polycrystalline olivine (Fo₉₁Fa₀₉) was measured by the Flash technique in the temperature range of 450–1500 K. At 450 K the thermal diffusivity was 10.7 × 10^?7 m²/s and decreased as a function of reciprocal temperature to 7.0 × 10^?7 m²/s at 800 K. From that temperature, the values gradually increased to a maximum of 7.8 × 10^?7 m²/s at 1000 K, and then steadily decreased to 5.6 × 10^?7 m²/s at 1500 K. The unusual decrease above 1000 K was caused by a reduction of the previously oxidized samples. The olivine's oxidation state plays a significant role in the value of thermal diffusivity at high temperatures.     

Experimental crystallization of chrome spinel in FAMOUS basalt 527-1-1

FAMOUS basalt 527-1-1 (a high-Mg oceanic pillow basalt) has three generations of spinel which can be distinguished petrographically and chemically. The first generation (Group I) have reaction coronas and are high in Al₂O₃. The second generation (Group II) have no reaction coronas and are high in Cr₂O₃ and the third generation (Group III) are small, late-stage spinels with intermediate Al₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃. Experimental synthesis of spinels from fused rock powder of this basalt was carried out at temperatures of 1175–1270°C and oxygen fugacities of 10^?5.5 to 10^?10 atm at 1 atm pressure. Spinel is the liquidus phase at oxygen fugacities of 10^?8.5 atm and higher but it does not crystallize at any temperature at oxygen fugacities less than 10^?9.5. The composition of our spinels synthesized at 1230–1250°C and 10^?9 atmf_O2 are most similar to the high-Cr spinels (Group II) found in the rock. Spinels synthesized at 1200°C and 10^?8.5 atm_O2 are chemically similar to the Group III spinels in 527-1-1. We did not synthesize spinel at any temperature or oxygen fugacity that are similar to the high-Al (Group I) spinel found in 527-1-1. These results indicate that the high-Cr (Group II) spinel is the liquidus phase in 527-1-1 at low pressure and Group III spinel crystallize below the liquidus (～1200°C) after eruption of the basalt on the sea floor. The high-Al spinel (Group I) could have crystallized at high pressure or from a magma enriched in Al and perhaps Mg compared to 527-1-1.     

Electrical conductivity of molten FeNiSC core mix

The electrical conductivity of liquid (Fe₉₀Ni₁₀)₃S₂ saturated with 2.6 weight percent carbon averages 2.7·10⁵ mho/m at 1000°C and zero pressure. This may imply a slightly lower electrical conductivity for the earth's core than that obtained by extrapolating the properties of pure liquid iron and solid iron alloys to core pressures and temperatures. Although a sulphur-rich core would have a smaller proportion of sulphur, the effect of lowering the sulphur content of the FeNiSC liquid to about 15 weight percent would be unlikely to increase the conductivity above 5·10⁵ mho/m.     

Electrical conductivity of magmatic liquids: effects of temperature,oxygen fugacity and composition

The effects of temperature, f_O2 and composition on the electrical conductivity of silicate liquids have been experimentally determined from 1200 to 1550°C under a range of f_O2 conditions sufficient to change the oxidation state of Fe from predominantly Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺. Oxidation of ferrous to ferric iron in the melt has no measurable effect on the conductivity of melts with relatively low ratios of divalent to univalent cations. Under strongly oxidizing conditions a minor decrease of conductivity is detected inth highΣM²/ΣM⁺ ratios. It is concluded that for purposes of estimating the conductivity of magmatic liquids, f_O2 may be ignored to a first approximation. Both univalent and divalent cation transport is involved in electrical conduction. Melts relying heavily on divalent cations for conduction, i.e. melts with relatively large ΣM²⁺/ΣM⁺ ratios, show strong departures from Arrheenius temperature dependence with the apparent activation energies decreasing steadily as the temperature increases. Conductivities dominated by the univalent cations, in melts with relatively small ΣM²⁺/ΣM⁺ ratios, show classical Arrhenius temperature dependence. These observations are discussed in terms of the general characteristics of the melt structure.Compositional variations within the magmatic range account for much less than an order of magnitude variation in electrical conductivity at a fixed temperature. This observation, combined with previous measurements of the conductivity of olivine (A. Duba, H.C. Heard and R. Schock, 1974) make it possible to state with reasonable confidence that melts occurring within the mantle will be more conductive by 3–4 orders of magnitude than their refractory residues. Potential applications to geothermometry are discussed.     

Electrical conductivity of igneous rocks: Composition and temperature relations

The conductivity of four igneous rocks with, 49, 65, 77, and 84% SiO₂ was measured as a function of temperature in the interval from 20° to 1280°C; measurements were made in a vacuum of 10^?3 torr. No simple relationships were found between conductivity and SiO₂ content or versus major element groupings such as Na₂O=K₂O=CaO and TiO₂=Cr₂O₃=Al₂O₃=Fe₂O₃=FeO. An analytical expression was obtained between conductivity and the albite-quartz ratio, valid for temperatures between 300° and 1200°C. It was necessary to compute the CIPW norm in order to obtain the albite and quartz percentages. The onset of melting apparently occurred between 600° and 700°C. Petrography performed on two samples after cooling showed 70 and 85% partial melting. Three conduction regions were identified: 1) below 300°C, 2) between 300°C and 600°C, and 3) above 600°C. Different activation energies obtained for the heating and cooling intervals confirm that the sample undergoes textural changes in the heating-cooling cycle. Activation energy increments of 0.1 and 0.2 eV per decade of albite-quartz ratio were obtained.     

Origin of iron-rich olivine in the matrices of type 3 ordinary chondrites: an experimental study

In order to understand the origin of iron-rich olivine in the matrices of type 3 ordinary chondrites, the reaction of metallic iron and enstatite, with and without forsterite and SiO₂, has been experimentally reproduced at temperatures between 1150° and 800°C and P_O2 between 10⁻¹¹ and 10⁻¹⁶ atm (between the IQF and MW buffers). The olivine produced ranges from Fo₅₈ to Fo₃₄ and this composition does not change significantly with temperature and time of the runs. The magnesian olivine which forms does become more magnesian with increasing forsterite/enstatite ratio of the starting materials. Iron-rich olivine (Fo< 35) cannot be formed by the reaction of enstatite and metallic iron, with or without forsterite as starting materials but it can be formed in the presence of free silica. The composition of olivine becomes more iron-rich with increasing silica/enstatite ratio. The compositional range of olivine formed from each mixture is 25–30 mole% Fo regardless of the temperature, composition, mineral assemblage, and run duration.From these experimental results, two possibilities suggested for the origin of the iron-rich olivine in the matrices of type 3 ordinary chondrites: (1) free silica must have been present if the iron-rich olivine was formed by solid-state reactions under oxidizing condition in the solar nebula; (2) reaction of silicon-rich gas with metallic iron took place under oxidizing condition in the solar nebula. Though it is difficult to define which alternative was dominant, the formation of free silica or silicon-rich gas may be a result of fractional condensation. This is possible if there is a reaction relation between forsterite and gas to produce enstatite. The suggested fractional condensation is supported by the fact that the compositions of the fine-grained matrices of type 3 ordinary chondrites are more silica-rich than the bulk compositions of the chondrites. Though it is not known whether such conditions were established all over the nebula or locally in the nebula, both fractionation and more oxidizing conditions than the average solar nebula are required for the formation of matrix olivine.     

Cation distribution in low-calcium pyroxenes: Dependence on temperature and calcium content and the thermal history of lunar and terrestrial pigeonites

Four pyroxenes with compositions En₄₈Fs₄₈Wo₄, En_47·5Fs_47·5Wo₅, En₄₅Fs₄₅Wo₁₀ and En₄₀Fs₄₀Wo₂₀, synthesized at 1200°C at atmospheric pressure, were heat-treated at 500, 600, 700, and 800°C for various lengths of time. These pyroxenes are variously ordered with respect to Fe²⁺ and Mg²⁺ without unmixing. The Fe²⁺-Mg²⁺ distribution over the two nonequivalent sites M1 and M2, determined through Mössbauer spectroscopy, is found to be a function of both temperature and concentration of Ca²⁺ at the M2 site. The preference of Fe²⁺ for the M2 site increases with decreasing temperature and increasing Ca²⁺. These data can be used to determine cation equilibration temperatures of lunar and terrestrial pigeonites. The lunar pigeonites usually indicate equilibration temperatures of 700–860°C, except the pigeonite from rock 14053, which may have been subjected to shock heating due to meteoritic impact.     

High-pressure phase equilibria in a garnet lherzolite,with special reference to Mg2+Fe2+ partitioning among constituent minerals

Phase equilibria in a natural garnet lherzolite nodule (PHN 1611) from Lesotho kimberlite and its chemical analogue have been studied in the pressure range 45–205 kbar and in the temperature range 1050–1200°C. Partition of elements, particularly Mg²⁺Fe²⁺, among coexisting minerals at varying pressures has also been examined. High-pressure transformations of olivine(α) to spinel(γ) through modified spinel(β) were confirmed in the garnet lherzolite. The transformation behavior is quite consistent with the information previously accumulated for the simple system Mg₂SiO₄Fe₂SiO₄. At pressures of 50–150 kbar, a continuous increase in the solid solubility of the pyroxene component in garnet was demonstrated in the lherzolite system by means of microprobe analyses. At 45–75 kbar and 1200°C, the Fe²⁺/(Mg + Fe²⁺) value becomes greater in the ascending order orthopyroxene, Ca-rich clinopyroxene, olivine and garnet. At 144–146 kbar and 1200°C, garnet exhibits the highest Fe²⁺/(Mg + Fe²⁺) value; modified spinel(β) and Ca-poor clinopyroxene follow it. When the modified spinel(β)-spinel(γ) transformation occurred, a higher concentration of Fe²⁺ was found in spinel(γ) rather than in garnet. As a result of the change in the Mg²⁺Fe²⁺ partition relation among coexisting minerals, an increase of about 1% in the Fe₂SiO₄ component in (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄ modified spinel and spinel was observed compared with olivine.These experimental results strongly suggest that the olivine(α)-modified spinel(β) transformation is responsible for the seismic discontinuity at depths of 380–410 km in the mantle. They also support the idea that the minor seismic discontinuity around 520 km is due to the superposition effect of two types of phase transformation, i.e. the modified spinel(β)-spinel(γ) transformation and the pyroxene-garnet transformation. Mineral assemblages in the upper mantle and the upper half of the transition zone are given as a function of depth for the following regions: 100–150, 150–380, 380–410, 410–500, 500–600 and 600–650 km.     

Ion microprobe studies of water in silicate melts: Temperature-dependent water diffusion in obsidian

The temperature dependence of water diffusivity in rhyolite melts over the range 650–950°C and [P_T(H₂O] = 700 bars is evaluated from water concentration-distance profiles measured in glass with an ion microprobe. Diffusivities are exponentially dependent on concentration over this temperature range and vary from about 10^?8 cm²/s at 650°C to about 10^?7 cm²/s at 950°C at 2 wt.% water. Water solubility also varies with temperature at a rate of ?0.14 wt. per 100°C increase. The avtivation energy (E_a) appears to be constant at 19 ± 1kal/mole for 1, 2,and 3 wt.% H₂O. Comparison of these data with results for cation diffusion indicates that this value is a minimum E_a for diffusion of any species in a rhyolite melt.Compensation plots of log₁₀D₀ (the frequency factor) versus E_a indicate that hydrous rhyolite melts follow the same trend as anhydrous basalts. D₀ increases for H₂O and Ca²⁺ [1] as E_a decreases. This suggests that these molecules may diffuse by different mechanisms than do monovalent cations, and that hydration of the melt affects diffusion of Ca²⁺ and H₂O differently than it does monovalent cation diffusion. The results imply that dramatic increases in cation diffusivities by hydration [1] may occur with additions of less than 1 wt.% H₂O.     

Chromian spinel lamellae in olivine from the Iwanai-dake peridotite mass,Hokkaido, Japan

Lamellar inclusions of chromian spinel (Cr/Cr + Al> 0.7), clinopyroxene and chromian spinel-clinopyroxene symplectite occur in olivines from alpine-type peridotites which have equilibrated at relatively low temperature (<700°C). They occur most commonly in dunite with very magnesian olivine (Fo₉₃ to Fo₉₅) and discrete grains of Cr-rich spinel. Olivine which initially equilibrated with magnesian and Cr-rich liquid had contained small amounts of calcium and trivalent chromium in the octahedral site, and lamellar chromian spinel and diopsidic clinopyroxene exsolved during the annealing process. The ordinary depletion of chromium or absence of chromian spinel lamellae in olivines in igneous rocks may be partly due to the effective exclusion of chromium from olivine upon cooling.     

Chromite in the Paricutin lava flows (1943–1952)

Small euhedral chromite crystals are found in olivine macrophenocrysts (Fo_80–84) from the basaltic andesites (150 ppm Cr) erupted in 1943–1947, and in orthopyroxene macrophenocrysts of the andesites (75 ppm Cr) erupted in 1947–1952. The majority of the chromite octahedra are 5–20 μm in diameter, and some are found in clusters and linear chains of three or more oriented chromite crystals. The composition of the majority of the chromite grains within olivine and orthopyroxene macrophenocrysts is Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺+Mg)=0.5–0.6, Cr/(Cr+Al)=0.5–0.6 and Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺+Al+Cr)=0.2–0.3. The chromite crystals in contact with the groundmass are larger, subhedral, and grade in composition from chromite cores to magnetite rims. Comparison of the composition of chromite with those of other volcanic rocks shows that the most primitive Paricutin chromite is richer in total iron and higher in Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺+Al+Cr) than primary chromite in most lavas. The linear chains of oriented chromite octahedra are found in olivine and orthopyroxene macrophenocrysts, and in the groundmass. These chromite chains are thought to result from diffusion-controlled crystallization because of the very high partition coefficient (1000) of Cr between chromite and melt. We conclude that chromite was a primary phase in the lavas at the time of extrusion and that magnetite only crystallized after extrusion during cooling of the lava flows. The presence of chromite microphenocrysts in andesitic lavas containing as little as 70 ppm Cr can be explained by dissolved H₂O in the melt depressing the liquidus temperature for orthopyroxene such that chromite becomes a liquidus phase. The influence of dissolved H₂O can also explain the lack of plagioclase macrophenocrysts in most of the lavas and the relatively high partition coefficient (20) of Ni between olivine and melt and the high partition coefficient (40) of Cr between orthopyroxene and melt. The liquidus temperature of the basaltic andesite is estimated to have been less than 1140°C, assuming H₂O>1 wt.%, and the log f_O2 to have been above that of the QFM buffer. The chromite and orthopyroxene liquidus temperature of the andesites, assuming H₂O>1 wt.%, is estimated to have been 1100°C or less. The derivation of the later andesites from the earlier basaltic andesites has been explained by a combination of fractional crystallization of olivine, orthopyroxene and plagioclase, and assimilation of xenoliths. The significantly lower Cr, Ni and Mg of the andesites may have been in part due to the separation of olivine macrophenocrysts plus enclosed chromite crystals from the earlier basaltic andesites.     

Electric and dielectric properties of forsterite between 400 and 900°C

The electrical impedance of a sintered forsterite sample containing 1 mol percent SiO₂ in excess has been studied as a function of frequency (1–10⁵ Hz) and temperature (400–900°C). The electrical properties are strongly frequency-dependent, requiring both conduction and displacement current for their interpretation. The electrical conductivity is thermally activated with a mean activation energy of 1.15 eV. It is interpreted as being ionic and caused by migration of magnesium ions via a vacancy mechanism. Dielectric data deduced from impedance measurements vary as ω^n?1 (0 < n < 1) at constant temperature. The value of n is different below and above a critical frequency ω_c, which is thermally activated and interpreted as the jump frequency of the migrating species.     

Thermal diffusivity of stishovite

The thermal diffusivity of synthetic polycrystalline stishovite was determined by the Ångstrom method in the temperature range 300–550 K at 1 atm. The calculated thermal conductivity of stishovite at 300 K is 0.086 W cm^?1 K^?1 which is comparable to that for TiO₂-rutile but much lower than for GeO₂ and SnO₂. The observed thermal conductivities of rutile-structure oxides increase systematically with increasing density, in contrast with the expected behavior for isostructural compounds.     

Correlation of rhyolitic pyroclastic eruptive units from the Taupo volcanic zone by Fe–Ti oxide compositional data

Grain-specific analyses of Fe–Ti oxides and estimates of eruption temperature (T) and oxygen fugacity (fO₂) have been used to fingerprint rhyolitic fall and flow deposits that are important for tephrostratigraphic studies in and around the Taupo volcanic zone of North Island, New Zealand. The analysed Fe–Ti oxides commonly occur in the rims of orthopyroxene crystals and appear to reflect equilibrium immediately prior to eruption because of geochemical correlation with the co-existing glass phase. The composition of the spinel phase is particularly diagnostic of eruptive centre for post-65 ka events and can be used to distinguish many tephra beds from the same volcano. The 29 different units examined were erupted over a wide range in T (690–990°C) and Δ log fO₂ (–0.1 to 2.0). These parameters are closely related to the mafic mineral assemblage, with hydrous mineral-bearing units displaying higher fO₂. Such trends are superimposed on larger differences in fO₂ that are related to eruptive centre. At any given temperature, all post-65 ka Okataina centre tephra have higher fO₂ values than post-65 ka Taupo centre tephra. This provides a useful criterion for identifying the volcanic source. There are no temporal T and fO₂ trends in the tephra record; over intervals >20 ka, however, tephra sequences from Taupo centre form characteristic T-fO₂ buffer trends mirroring the glass chemistry. Individual eruptive events display uniform spinel and rhombohedral phase compositions and thus narrow ranges in T (± <20°C) and log fO₂ (± <0.5), allowing these features to identify individual magma batches. These criteria can help distinguish tephra deposits of similar bulk or glass composition that originated from the same volcano. Distal fall deposits record the same T-fO₂ conditions as the proximal ignimbrite and enable distal–proximal correlation. Lateral and vertical compositional and T-fO₂ variability displayed in large volume (>100 km³) ignimbrites, such as the Oruanui, Rotoiti and Ongatiti, is similar to that found in a single pumice clast and thus mainly reflects analytical error; however, thermal gradients of ca. 50°C may occur in some units. Received: 6 April 1998 / Accepted: 16 June 1998     

Crystallization of tholeiitic basalt in Alae Lava Lake,Hawaii

The eruption of Kilauea Volcano August 21–23, 1963, left 600,000 cubic meters of basaltic lava in a lava lake as much as 15 meters deep in Alae pit crater. Field studies of the lake began August 27 and include repeated core drilling, measurements of temperature in the crust and melt, and precise level surveys of the lake surface. The last interstitial melt in the lake solidified late in September 1964; by mid August 1965 the maximum temperature was 690°C at a depth of 11.5 meters. Pumice air-quenched from about 1140°C contains only 5 percent crystals — clinopyroxene, cuhedral olivine (Fo ₈₀), and a trace of plagioclase, (An ₇₀). Drill cores taken from the zone of crystallization in the lake show that olivine continued crystallizing to about 1070°C; below that it reacts with the melt, becoming corroded and mantled by pyroxene and plagioclase. Below 1070°C, pyroxene and plagioclase crystallized at a constant ratio. Ilmenite first appeared at about 1070°C and was joined by magnetite at about 1050°C; both increased rapidly in abundance to 1000°C. Apatite first appeared as minute needles in interstitial glass at 1000°C. Both the abundance and index of refraction of glass quenched from melt decreased nearly linearly with falling temperature. At 1070°C the quenched lava contains about 65 percent dark-brown glass with an index of 1.61; at 980°C it contains about 8 percent colorless glass with an index of 1.49. Below 980°C, the percentage of glass remained constant. Progressive crystallization forced exsolution of gases from the melt fraction; these formed vesicles and angular pores, causing expansion of the crystallizing lava and lifting the surface of the central part of the lake an average of 19.5 cm. The solidified basalt underwent pneumatolitic alteration, including deposition of cristobalite at 800°C, reddish alteration of olivine at 700°C, tarnishing of ilmenite at 550°C, deposition of anhydrite at 250°C, and deposition of native sulfur at 100°C. Ferric-ferrous ratios suggest that oxidation with maximum intensity between 550°C and 610°C moved downward in the crust as it cooled; this was followed by reduction at a temperature of about 100°C. The crystallized basalt is a homogeneous fine-grained rock containing on the average 48.3 percent by volume intergranular pyroxene (augite > pigeonite), 34.2 percent plagioclase laths (An_{60 70}), 7.9 percent interstitial glass, 6.9 percent opaques (ilmenite > magnetite), 2.7 percent olivine (Fo_{70 80}), and a trace of apatite. Chemical analyses of 18 samples, ranging from initially quenched pumice to lava cored more than a year after the eruption from the center and from near the base of the lake, show little variation from silica-saturated tholeiitic basalt containing 50.4 percent SiO₂, 2.4 percent Na₂O, and 0.54 percent K₂O. Apparently there was no significant crystal settling and no appreciable vapor-phase transport of these components during the year of crystallization. However, seven samples of interstitial liquid that had been filter-pressed into gash fractures and drill holes from partly crystalline mush near the base of the crust show large differences from the bulk composition of the solidified crust—lower MgO, CaO, and Al₂O₃; and higher total iron, TiO₂, Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅, and F, and, in most samples, SiO₂. The minor elements Ba, Ga, Li, Y, and Yb and possibly Cu tend to be enriched in the filter-pressed liquids, and Cr and possibly Ni tend to be depleted.     

Fractional crystallization trends in the system Mg2SiO4-CaAl2Si2O8-FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2 over the range of oxygen partial pressures of 10−11 to 10−0.7 atm

A brief report is made of current laboratory investigations on phase relations among olivine, pyroxene, anorthite, magnetite, tridymite, liquid and gas in the system Mg₂SiO₄-CaAl₂Si₂O₈-FeO-Fe₂O₂-SiO₂ over a wide range of oxygen partial pressures. Courses of fractional crystallization under various conditions of oxygen partial pressure are depicted using an anorthite saturation diagram. Starting with a basalt-like composition in the system, fractional crystallization at a moderate oxygen partial pressure (10 atm.) results in an andesite-like residual liquid of composition 55 SiO₂, 14 iron oxide, 6 MgO, 9 CaO, 16 Al₂O₃ at a temperature of 1155°C. With fractional crystallization in a closed system, the end liquid approaches the composition of 45 SiO₂, 38 iron oxide, 6 CaO and 11 Al₂O₃, at a temperature of 1050°C and oxygen partial pressure of about 10^?12 atm. The andesitic final liquid in this system would be expected to further differentiate toward dacitic and rhyolitic compositions if alkalies and water were present in the system. On the basis of these studies, the derivation of liquids of andesitic, dacitic or rhyolitic composition from primary basalts by fractional crystallization seems entirely possible if the oxygen partial pressure is maintained at a moderate or high level.