藏南定结铁镁质麻粒岩矿物化学、PTt轨迹和折返过程

定结铁镁质麻粒岩出露于藏南拆离系和申扎-定结伸展构造系交汇处的高喜马拉雅岩系糜棱岩化片麻岩内, 以不同规模的透镜状包体沿着糜棱面理分布, 主要岩石类型包括退变石榴石斜长辉石岩、石榴石二辉麻粒岩和辉石斜长角闪岩等. 详细的岩相学分析表明这些铁镁质麻粒岩经历了至少四个阶段的变质演化, 早期形成了石榴石+单斜辉石+石英(榴辉岩)矿物组合(M1)、早期降压分解形成斜长石+单斜辉石后成合晶构成的高压麻粒岩矿物组合(M2)、晚期降压分解形成的斜长石+单斜辉石+紫苏辉石后成合晶构成的麻粒岩相矿物组合(M3)和最后降温水化形成的斜长石+角闪石退变质矿物组合(M4). 详细的矿物电子探针成分分析表明早期石榴石和单斜辉石(M1和M2)矿物成分与B类和C类榴辉岩同类矿物的成分特征相似, M3单斜辉石与麻粒岩相单斜辉石的成分特征一致. 早期残晶矿物组合形成于榴辉岩相(M1), 早期降压分解(M2)反应发生于1.35~1.48 GPa, 625~675℃, 降压分解的M3麻粒岩相变质阶段矿物组合形成于0.7~0.95 GPa, 775~900℃, M4退化变质的斜长石+角闪石矿物组合形成于4.0~7.5 GPa、660~700℃, 记录了俯冲增厚－构造隆升的PTt轨迹. 矿物化学特征和不同阶段变质作用的P-T条件表明早期经历了榴辉岩相变质作用. 折返过程中经历了榴辉岩相构造隆升、榴辉岩-高压麻粒岩相到麻粒岩相均衡隆升和伸展隆升的三阶段折返过程.     

内蒙古南部麻粒岩中辉石的特征

冀北和内蒙古南部西起酒馆东至涞源,处于华北地台的边缘,这里出露前震旦纪变质岩系,属角闪岩相至麻粒岩相。岩石由斜方辉石、角闪石、石榴石、斜长石、微斜长石、黑云母、石英、单斜辉石、磁铁矿、金红石、磷灰石等矿物组成,以含斜方辉石、角闪石、石榴石为特征。由于矿物含量不等,其中变质     

基性岩流变实验揭示出大陆下地壳流变的复杂性

基性麻粒岩流变实验研究对认识大陆下地壳流变、板内构造变形和强震孕育等具有重要意义.大量基性岩流变实验数据表明,基性麻粒岩流变实验研究集中在单相矿物和两相矿物集合体,对天然基性麻粒岩流变研究很有限.基性麻粒岩流变实验结果的影响因素众多,除了实验条件(如温度、压力、应变速率)外,实验样品的矿物组分、样品颗粒粒度、微量水、熔体、矿物反应等都会影响其流变特性,这导致实验结果的复杂性.因此,根据单相或两相矿物集合体流变讨论大陆下地壳流变结构时,存在很多不确定性,不能满足下地壳流变研究的实际需求.而根据端元组分流变参数和经验方程估计由多相矿物组成的麻粒岩的流变强度,只是一种简单近似,无法完全取代麻粒岩流变实验研究.因此,开展多相矿物基性麻粒岩的流变实验,以获得更接近真实大陆下地壳流变的实验数据,并且用于定量研究下地壳流变,是大陆下地壳流变实验未来发展的方向.在基性麻粒岩流变实验研究中存在的科学问题与技术难题是多相矿物流变、高温部分熔融的影响、矿物反应-流变相互作用,这些问题都有待通过高温高压流变实验进行深入研究.     

在塑性变形过程中辉长岩部分熔融的熔体特征

采用透射电镜对辉长岩塑性变形过程中产生的熔体进行了研究，结果表明，在950～1000℃时出现初熔，初熔熔体呈薄膜状分布于两个斜长石边界，或者呈三角形状分布于3个斜长石之间. 这种早期熔体的SiO2含量在60髎左右. 在1050℃时，熔融程度增加，熔体不仅出现在斜长石之间，也出现在斜长石与辉石或磁铁矿之间. 熔体的SiO2含量低于50髎. 斜长石之间的熔体薄膜随熔体含量增加而变宽，把孤立的熔体三角形贯通，形成彼此连通且定向排列的熔体三角形. 这可能是在构造差应力作用下熔体向应力小的方向运移和聚集的结果. 这些熔体中有许多均匀分布的0.1～0.2μm的暗色“小球”，暗色 “小球”周边的硅酸盐熔体富硅贫铁，SiO2含量超过70髎，而暗色“小球”成分富铁贫硅，SiO2含量低于40髎，这表明熔体发生了分异. 其中富铁贫硅熔体局部发生了结晶作用，形成了树枝状磁铁矿雏晶. 熔体成分分异使富铁成分从玄武岩浆中分离，这对磁铁矿富集成铁矿起到重要作用.     

大陆岩石圈流变与地震波速各向异性

岩石的流变决定了地球各时空尺度的变形,是理解大陆岩石圈构造演化的关键.岩石流变学的研究主要通过高温高压流变学实验和天然变形岩石的多尺度观测来实现,目前已经积累了大量的数据.本文总结了岩石圈不同深度主要造岩矿物,包括橄榄石、斜方辉石、单斜辉石、角闪石、斜长石、石英和云母的流变机制、组构类型以及地震学性质;介绍了岩石圈地幔橄榄岩、榴辉岩、基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪岩和长英质岩石的高温高压实验和天然变形观测进展,包括流变学强度和行为、地震波速和各向异性等;以青藏高原为例,讨论了岩石流变学研究在解译地震波速各向异性的定量化约束作用.将矿物变形组构与地震波各向异性相结合,有望在岩石圈流变学机制和结构的研究中取得重要突破.     

2.0 GPa块状斜长角闪岩部分熔融--时间和温度的影响

利用多顶砧压机, 以青藏高原北喜马拉雅构造带的天然斜长角闪岩为样品, 在2.0 GPa, 800～1000℃条件下进行了两个系列的块状样品脱水部分熔融实验: (1) 保持压力p = 2.0 GPa, 加热时间t = 12 h不变, 改变温度(800℃～1000℃)的实验; (2) 保持压力p = 2.0 GPa, 温度T = 850℃不变, 改变加热时间(12～200 h)的实验. 结果表明, 2.0 GPa, 加热12 h的条件下, 随温度升高, 斜长角闪岩中依次生成了石榴石、熔体和单斜辉石, 熔体的成分呈英云闪长质-花岗闪长质-英云闪长质的演化趋势. 2.0 GPa, 850℃条件下, 随加热时间增加, 斜长角闪岩中依次生成了石榴石、熔体和单斜辉石, 熔体的成分由英云闪长质向花岗闪长质演化.当块状岩石样品中熔体体积百分比的含量达到5%时, 熔体已经相互连通.温度大于850℃的条件下生成的熔体其粘度在104 Pas量级, 已经满足了在地质时间尺度上熔体分凝形成岩浆的粘度要求. 因此, 可以认为在增厚地壳的下部, 斜长角闪岩的脱水部分熔融可以形成英云闪长质-花岗质岩浆.     

再循环陆壳物质对岩石圈地幔的改造:鲁西早白垩世高镁闪长岩中异剥橄榄岩捕虏体证据

本文报道了鲁西早白垩世高镁闪长岩中异剥橄榄岩捕虏体的岩相学与矿物化学资料,以便揭示异剥橄榄岩的成因和岩石圈地幔的深部过程.岩相学研究表明,异剥橄榄岩捕虏体呈浑圆状产于高镁闪长质侵入体中,大小介于3cm×4cm×5cm～3cm×2cm×1cm,并且橄榄石呈残留孤岛状存在于单斜辉石中.矿物化学研究表明,橄榄石的镁橄榄石分子(Fo)介于89～91,Ni=1414～3629ppm,类似于新生代幔源橄榄岩捕虏体中橄榄石的成分,但略低于早白垩世方辉橄榄岩中橄榄石的成分.橄榄石的δ18O值介于(6.03‰±0.33‰)～(6.82‰±0.35‰)(平均值为(6.5‰±0.4‰)),高于典型幔源橄榄岩中橄榄石的δ18O组成(5.2‰±0.3‰).与晚白垩世和新生代玄武岩中地幔橄榄岩捕虏体里的单斜辉石相比,异剥橄榄岩捕掳体中单斜辉石的Na2O,TiO2和Al2O3含量相对偏低,而CaO含量、Mg#值(91.2～94.1)和Ti/Eu比值(Ti/Eu=2082～2845)明显偏高,但与早白垩世高镁闪长岩中方辉橄榄岩里的单斜辉石成分类似单斜辉石以较低的稀土元素(REE)丰度、富集轻稀土元素(LREE)的配分型式和强烈亏损高场强元素(如Nb,Ta,Zr和Hf)为特点.此外,异剥橄榄岩的87Sr/86Sr,143Nd/144Nd和187Os/188Os(125Ma)比值分别变化于0.70596～0.70737,0.512181～0.512416和0.12661～0.57650.上述特征表明异剥橄榄岩为地幔橄榄岩受再循环陆壳物质熔体改造所成.     

石榴石异剥橄榄岩中橄榄石的钛铁矿和含铬钛磁铁矿出溶体

在中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD)岩心中石榴石异剥橄榄岩橄榄石中发现杆状钛铁矿和含铬钛磁铁矿出溶体. 利用透射电子显微镜及电子探针详细研究了杆状钛铁矿和含铬钛磁铁矿出溶体的成分、形态、结晶习性以及与寄主矿物橄榄石之间的拓扑关系. 发现钛铁矿出溶体与Arami橄榄石中钛铁矿出溶体具有相似的特征, 但含铬钛磁铁矿出溶体与Arami橄榄石中铬铁矿出溶体具有较大的差异. 分析认为文中发现的杆状钛铁矿和含铬钛磁铁矿出溶体最初都是固溶在b 相橄榄石中, 以后随着压力降低, 发生固溶体分解而产生含铬钛磁铁矿及钛铁矿出溶体; 该石榴石异剥橄榄岩可能曾经就位于300 km以下的地幔转换带.     

华北克拉通岩石圈破坏的榴辉岩熔体-橄榄岩反应机制:实验约束

以碧溪岭榴辉岩和大麻坪尖晶石二辉橄榄岩为起始原料,在压力2.0GPa,温度1250～1400℃条件下进行榴辉岩熔体-橄榄岩反应的高温高压实验.实验结果显示,在榴辉岩熔体-二辉橄榄岩反应过程中,熔体消耗橄榄岩中的橄榄石和斜方辉石生成单斜辉石.实验产物的岩石序列为橄榄岩-辉石岩-石榴辉石岩,与Liu等在华北克拉通内部的汉诺坝地区发现的大量中生代地幔复合包体结构非常吻合.在温度1300和1350℃时,榴辉岩熔体-二辉橄榄岩反应产生的熔体具有高镁安山岩的成分特征(Mg#>45),表明榴辉岩熔体-橄榄岩反应可能是高镁安山岩形成的主要原因之一.实验结果表明华北克拉通下地壳榴辉岩在中生代可能发生过拆沉作用;榴辉岩拆沉进入软流圈地幔后,部分熔融产生的熔体可以消耗岩石圈地幔橄榄岩,导致华北克拉通的减薄,从而为华北克拉通岩石圈地幔被软流圈地幔改造的熔体-橄榄岩反应机制提供实验约束.     

月球表面主要矿物反射光谱特性研究

分析了矿物在可见光及近红外区光谱生成的机理,介绍了月球表面最为主要的四种矿物——辉石、斜长石、橄榄石、钛铁矿,并分析了它们各自光谱特征及生成原因,讨论了造成同种矿物光谱差异的原因,给出了它们各自的标志性特征。     

热水条件下角闪石断层泥的摩擦滑动性质——与斜长石断层泥的对比

基于速率与状态依赖性摩擦本构关系理论框架,在热水条件下研究了角闪石断层泥的摩擦滑动性质并与闪长岩的另一种主要矿物斜长石的摩擦滑动性质进行了对比.摩擦实验是在三轴实验系统上完成,有效正应力200 MPa,孔隙压力30 MPa,并将加载速率在1.22 μm/s和 0.122 μm/s之间实施了切换.结果表明角闪石的摩擦系数均值为0.70±0.01,随着温度增加没有系统性的变化,整体低于斜长石的摩擦系数(0.75±0.01);计算与实验表明,角闪石和斜长石的摩擦系数的体积分数加权平均值与闪长岩的摩擦系数基本一致;角闪石在实验温度范围内(100～614 ℃)显示速率强化(a-b>0),与斜长石在整个温度范围内的速率弱化(a-b<0)正好相反;角闪石的速率依赖性在整个实验温度范围内无系统性的变化.     

Plagioclase lamellae in hypersthene,Tikkoatokhakh Bay,Labrador

Abundant lamellae of plagioclase are present in the (100) planes of hypersthene megacrysts in andesine anorthosite along Tikkoatokhakh Bay, northwest of Nain, Labrador. Spongy intergrowths of plagioclase in hypersthene also occur. Plagioclase lamellae have mean compositions ranging from An₄₃ to An₉₂, with extreme compositions from An₃₉ to An₉₇; the calcic compositions are the more abundant. Such lamellae are always accompanied in the hypersthene by grains or lamellar segments of magnetite, and rarely by lamellae of olivine, augite, magnetite, or ilmenite. Some calcic plagioclase lamellae contain antiperthitic spindles of orthoclase. The host rocks of the hypersthene megacrysts are layered leuconorites and anorthosites with mean plagioclase compositions ranging from An₄₁ to An₅₅. The plagioclase lamellae in hypersthene are characteristically much more calcic than the host-rock plagioclase. There is little doubt that the lamellae exsolved from a pyroxene host, dominantly by a coupled redox reaction which generated magnetite, thereby releasing silica to combine with the Ca-Tschermak and jadeite components of the precursor pyroxene. Rapid growth of megacrysts may account for their aluminous nature.     

Silicate‐oxide mineral chemistry of mafic–ultramafic rocks as an indicator of the roots of an island arc: The Chilas Complex,Kohistan (Pakistan)

The Chilas Complex is a major lower crustal component of the Cretaceous Kohistan island arc and one of the largest exposed slices of arc magma chamber in the world. Covering more than 8000 km², it reaches a current tectonic width of around 40 km. It was emplaced at 85 Ma during rifting of the arc soon after the collision of the arc with the Karakoram plate. Over 85% of the Complex comprises homogeneous, olivine‐free gabbronorite and subordinate orthopyroxene–quartz diorite association (MGNA), which contains bodies of up to 30 km² of ultramafic–mafic–anorthositic association (UMAA) rocks. Primary cumulate textures, igneous layering, and sedimentary structures are well preserved in layered parts of the UMAA in spite of pervasive granulite facies metamorphism. Mineral analyses show that the UMAA is characterized by more magnesian and more aluminous pyroxene and more calcic plagioclase than those in the MGNA. High modal abundances of orthopyroxene, magnetite and ilmenite (in MGNA), general Mg–Fe–Al spatial variations, and an MFA plot of whole‐rock analyses suggest a calc‐alkaline origin for the Complex. Projection of the pyroxene compositions on the Wo–En–Fs face is akin to those of pyroxenes from island arcs gabbros. The presence of highly calcic plagioclase and hornblende in UMAA is indicative of hydrous parental arc magma. The complex may be a product of two‐stage partial melting of a rising mantle diaper. The MGNA rocks represent the earlier phase melting, whereas the UMAA magma resulted from the melting of the same source depleted by the extraction of the earlier melt phase. Some of the massive peridotites in the UMAA may either be cumulates or represent metasomatized and remobilized upper mantle. The Chilas Complex shows similarities with many other (supra)subduction‐related mafic–ultramafic complexes worldwide.     

Petrology and chemistry of two “large” granite clasts from the moon

Pristine granite clasts in Apollo-14 breccias 14321 and 14303 have estimated masses of 1.8 and 0.17 g, respectively. The 14321 clast is ～ 60% K-feldspar and 40% quartz, with traces of extremely Mg-poor mafic silicates and ilmenite. The 14303 clast is roughly 33% plagioclase, 32% K-feldspar, 23% quartz, 11% pyroxene, and 1% ilmenite; pyroxene and ilmenite are moderately Mg-rich; plagioclase and pyroxene are strongly zoned. Both clasts are severely brecciated, but monomict (pristine). Both have abundant graphic intergrowths of K-feldspar with quartz. Unlike the majority of similar Earth rocks, both clasts are devoid of hydrous phases. The bulk composition of the 14321 clast is similar to those of several other lunar granitic samples, but the 14303 clast is unique: it bears as close a resemblance to KREEP as it does to other lunar granites. Silicate liquid immiscibility may explain why the granites are low in REE relative to KREEP.     

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF WATER ON THE STRENGTH AND DEFORMATION MECHANISM OF CARRARA MARBLE AT HIGH TEMPERATURE

We performed deformation experiments using Carrara marble in dry and wet conditions under temperature of 400~700℃ and confining pressure 300MPa with two different strain rates. Water contents of deformed samples were measured using FTIR spectroscopy. The microstructure and deformation mechanisms of samples were observed under optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy spectroscopy analysis. The mechanical data show that samples display strain hardening at 400℃, and transition to steady creep at temperature from 500~700℃. The strength of marble reduced gradually with elevated temperatures or decreased strain rate. However, water effect to the strength of the marble is significantly weak. Microstructures observed show that the deformation is cataclastic flow in dry samples, fracture and pressure solution in wet samples at 400℃. Samples underwent brittle-plastic transition at 500℃. Dislocation glide is major deformation mechanism for dry samples at 600℃. Dislocation climb and dynamic recrystallization are major deformation mechanism for wet samples at 600℃ and for all wet samples and dry samples at 700℃. Lower strain rate and higher water content could promote the process of pressure solution and diffusion as well as dynamic recrystallization.     

Zircon geochronology and geochemistry of mafic xenoliths from Liaoning kimberlites:Track the early evolution of the lower crust,North China Craton

Since the formation of the primal nucleus at 3.8Ga[1], the North China had underwent the multi-cycle geologic processes such as arc accretion[2—4] andrift[5—7], and finally accomplished the craton[8] aroundat 1.8 Ga[2,3,9]. Paleozoic Fuxian kimberlites (LiaoningProvince) contain not only abundant peridotitic butalso mafic xenoliths. The investigation on peridotiticxenoliths indicted that the North China Craton hadcold and thick lithospheric root in the middle Ordovi-cian. The deep part o…     

Mineralogy and geothermometry of high-temperature rhyolites from the central and western Snake River Plain

Voluminous mid-Miocene rhyolitic ash-flow tuffs and lava flows are exposed along the northern and southern margins of the central and western Snake River Plain. These rhyolites are essentially anhydrous with the general mineral assemblage of plagioclase ±sanidine ± quartz + augite + pigeonite ± hypersthene ± fayalitic olivine + Fe-Ti oxides + apatite + zircon which provides an opportunity to compare feldspar, pyroxene, and Fe-Ti oxide equilibration temperatures for the same rocks. Estimated pyroxene equilibration temperatures (based on the geothermometers of Lindsley and coworkers) range from 850 to 1000°C, and these are well correlated with whole-rock compositions. With the exception of one sample, agreement between the two-pyroxene thermometers tested is well within 50°C. Fe-Ti oxide geothermometers applied to fresh magnetite and ilmenite generally yield temperatures about 50 to 100°C lower than the pyroxene temperatures, and erratic results are obtained if these minerals exhibit effects of subsolidus oxidation and exsolution. Results of feldspar thermometry are more complicated, and reflect uncertainties in the thermometer calibrations as well as in the degree of attainment of equilibrium between plagioclase and sanidine. In general, temperatures obtained using the Ghiorso (1984) and Green and Usdansky (1986) feldspar thermometers agree with the pyroxene temperatures within the respective uncertainties. However, uncertainties in the feldspar temperatures are the larger of the two (and exceed ±60°C for many samples). The feldspar thermometer of Fuhrman and Lindsley (1988) produces systematically lower temperatures for many of the samples studied. The estimated pyroxene temperatures are considered most representative of actual magmatic temperatures for these rhyolites. This range of temperatures is significantly higher than those for rhyolites from many other suites, and is consistent with the hypothesis that the Snake River Plain rhyolitic magmas formed by partial fusion of relatively dry (e.g. granulitic) crustal lithologies.     

Mineralogy,petrology, and chemistry of a Luna 16 basaltic fragment,sample B-1

Luna 16 sample B-1 was the largest fragment (62 mg) obtained in the sample exchange with the USSR. Petrologic, mineralogic, and chemical investigations have been made on this fragment in conjunction with Rb-Sr and⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar investigations by our colleagues. Sample B-1 is a fine-grained ophitic basalt but is distinguished from the Apollo samples by containing a single pyroxene, predominantly pigeonitic, an ilmenite content (7%) intermediate to that of the Apollo 11 and 12 samples, and subequal amounts of pyroxene (50%) and plagioclase (40%). Chemically it is distinguished by a high Sr content (437 ppm) and a high K/U value (4700). The K-content (1396 ppm) is higher than that of Luna 16 soil sample A-2.     

Transmission electron microscope and rock magnetic investigations of remanence carriers in a Precambrian metadolerite

A Precambrian metadolerite dyke has two distinct types of remanence carriers; those with medium/high coercivities (unblocking fields of 20–120 mT) and those with low coercivities (unblocking fields of <15 mT). Optical examination reveals numerous submicron probably opaque inclusions in the plagioclase feldspar and also large opaque grains consisting of coarse oxidation-exsolution intergrowths of magnetite and ilmenite. All opaque phases have been examined using transmission electron microscopy together with microanalysis and electron diffraction. The submicron inclusions in the plagioclase are titanomagnetites(0 < x ≤ 0.14) with a size range between about 0.01 and 0.5 μm and axial ratios between 1 (equidimensional) and about 0.3. Many of these inclusions fall in the single-domain field but some are probably pseudo-single-domain. The large opaque grains contain almost pure magnetite and ilmenite and show no fine-scale exsolution; the magnetite regions of the intergrowths are of multidomain size and reveal multidomain structure under Lorentz electron microscopy. There are also some primary ilmenites containing very fine exsolved haematite, and there are very fine plates of ilmenite and very elongate needles of magnetite within the augite. Experiments on artificial samples containing very carefully prepared separates of plagioclase and large opaque grains show that the pure plagioclase acquires a remanence with unblocking fields of 20–140 mT and blocking temperatures of 390–590°C and the large opaque grains acquire a remanence with unblocking fields of less than 15 mT but a wide range of blocking temperatures up to about 570°C. It is concluded that the medium/high coercivity component of remanence in the rock is carried largely or possibly entirely by the submicron magnetites within the plagioclase and that the low coercivity component is carried largely or entirely by the multidomain magnetites in the large opaques. The contribution of the magnetite needles in the augite is uncertain as the rock does not contain any detectable component of remanence with the extremely high coercivities expected from their very elongate shape.     

Petrology of the rajmahal traps of the Northwestern Rajmahal Hills,Bihar, India

Nine basaltic lava-flows, which vary in thickness between 60 feet and 300 feet, were established in the NW Rajmahals. The flows were, at places, laid down one above the other and, at others, were found to contain intervening intertrappean horizons. All the flows are essentially of basaltic composition and are made up of labradoritie plagioclase, pigeonitic and augitic pyroxene, opaque ore, primary glass and secondary minerals (palagonite, secondary silica, calcite and zeolite). The phenocrystic plagioclase ranges in composition between An₇₂ and An₆₂, while the constituents of the groundmass range between An₅₀ and An₁₇. The microphenocrysts of pyroxene are mainly augitic and occasionally pigeonitic while the constituents of the groundmass are essentially pigeonitic. The opaque minerals are magnetite and ilmenite. Petrographically, the lava-flows are more or less similar to one another. The first three flows are, however, more remarkably porphyritic and a little coarser in grain size than the six overlying flows. The eighth flow is devoid of palagonite. Calcite occurs only in certain portions of the second flow. There is a gradual increase in the percentage of primary glass from the first to the ninth flow with a corresponding fall in the total percentage of plagioclase and pyroxene. Statistical analysis of the grain size variation in the plagioclases was carried out and the results were found to be directly related to the prevailing rates of cooling in the different flows and also in the different horizons of the same flow. Modal analysis of the nine flows (in all, 98 samples) was carried out and this brought out some interesting results. Samples from three of the flows were analysed chemically and the corresponding norms were calculated. The order of crystallisation of the primary constituents was established from petrographic and petrological studies. The basaltic magma, which gave rise to the lava-flows of this region, does not appear to have undergone any significant differentiation during the course of its cooling and consolidation. The only discernible effect of crystallisati on differentiation was an enrichment of silica (and, perhaps, alkalis) in the residual liquids and no noteworthy enrichment of iron appears to have occurred at any stage.