云南金宝山超镁铁岩原始岩浆成分反演

金宝山岩体赋存有我国最大的铂族元素矿床,位于云南省弥渡县,大地构造位置处于杨子地台西缘南端。岩体是呈似层状(岩席)产出的小型超镁铁岩,侵位于泥盆系金宝山组白云岩、泥灰岩、砂板岩中,由橄榄岩、辉橄岩及微辉岩、辉石岩异离体组成,没有完整的相带分异,缺乏分异堆积特征。但岩体铂族元素成矿以铂钯为特征(Pd/Ir>10),硫化物Ni/Cu比值低(0.5～5),岩石稀土元素富集,配分型式为轻稀土富集型,体现基性岩浆衍生产物的岩石地球化学特点。元素含量的组合变化反映出橄榄石对岩石成分的控制作用,成岩母体可视为橄榄石与熔体两部分组成的混合体系,分析表明岩浆经历了11％的橄榄石结晶和22％左右的斜长石结晶分异,大部分熔体相携带斜长石先期离开岩浆房或被压滤出去,残余熔体携带橄榄石结晶颗粒在构造挤压作用下向上运移侵位成岩。根据岩浆演化过程反演,计算得到金宝山超镁铁岩原始岩浆组成,表明为低钛拉斑玄武岩岩浆,MgO含量为12.93％,其形成可能与裂谷作用早期的地幔热柱作用有关,原始岩浆起源于未亏损地幔的部分熔融。     

铜陵中酸性侵入岩成因及锆石SHRIMP定年

铜陵地区高钾钙碱性系列侵入岩包括辉长闪长岩+石英二长闪长岩+花岗闪长岩,橄榄安粗岩系列侵入岩包括辉石二长闪长岩+二长岩+石英二长岩。高钾钙碱性系列侵入岩中含有富云母包体和微粒闪长质包体以及镁铁质石英二长闪长质包体,与区内的铜(金)矿化关系密切;橄榄安粗岩系列岩体中含多种深源堆积岩包体,与金(铜)、银、铅、锌等矿化关系密切。锆石SHRIMP定年结果表明,石英二长闪长岩为140Ma左右,花岗闪长岩为142～146Ma,辉长闪长岩为143Ma,辉石二长闪长岩为138～142Ma,二长岩为143Ma,可见两个系列侵入岩的年龄既有一定的差别,也有一些重叠。岩石地球化学及包体岩石学研究表明,橄榄安粗岩系列岩石可能为幔源碱性玄武质岩浆分异后形成,高钾钙性系列岩石可能为分异的幔源岩浆与壳源岩浆混合后形成。     

Magmatic Processes of Ashi Volcano,Western Kunlun Mountains,China

The Ashikule volcanic cluster(AVC) in western Kunlun Mountains is located in a graben region at the convergence of the Altun and Kangxiwa fault zones, and consists of more than 10 main volcanoes and dozens of volcanelloes. The Ashi volcano lies in the central part of the volcanic cluster. The lithology, chemical composition and texture of Ashi volcanic rocks were studied in detail, and their implication in magmatic processes was discussed. The phenocrysts in Ashi volcanic rocks consist mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene, and the statistical results of phenocryst contents show that the rocks can be subdivided into two groups. In group A, the content of pyroxene phenocrysts is generally higher than that of plagioclase phenocrysts, but an inverse relation occurs in group B. In TAS diagram, the compositions of both groups fall into the trachyandensite field, but they are obviously concentrated into two clusters. The two clusters exist also in the oxide diagrams. The pyroxene phenocrysts comprise augite, bronzite and hypersthene, and their Mg# histogram shows two peaks. Plagioclase phenocrysts with reaction rim are observed in rocks of both groups. The An values of the core are generally 30–40, and those of the rim are 44–48, which are closer to those of euhedral plagioclases. The bronzites are in equilibrium with the melt, and two sets of magma depths, i.e., 18–25 km and 13–18 km, can be estimated by using thermobarometer proposed by Putirka. The hypersthenes are not in equilibrium with the melt, and can be assigned to xenocrysts. The crystal size distribution(CSD) curves of plagioclase appear as kinked lines indicative of magma mixing. The above analyses show that two magma pockets might exist beneath the Ashi volcano. It is likely that they are connected with each other. The one has more evolved and contains more acidic magma, and the other is a trachyandensite magma pocket characterized by layering. The magma from the upper part of the trachyandensite magma pocket might mix with more acidic magma, resulting in a magma that is more acidic than the magma from the lower part.     

河南桐柏老湾花岗岩岩浆动力学与成矿

基于岩浆岩岩石学、流体动力学、热力学研究。本文计算了河南桐伯老湾花岗岩岩浆过程的上升速度、冷凝速度及岩浆熔体的密度、粘度、含水量等物理参数，探讨了熔体中晶体的成核密度和生长速度以及岩浆对流形式等动力学行为，并分析了它们与成矿作用的联系。研究表明，老湾花岗岩岩浆含水量为4．76％，在侵位的温度和压力下是饱和的，较高的水含量有利于矿化。老湾花岗岩熔体上升较快而冷却缓慢，晶体成核密度和生长速度较低，以挥发分为迁移形式的成分对流是熔体中成矿物质迁移、富集的主要方式。老湾花岗岩特殊的岩浆物理性质和动力学行为指示其岩浆作用与老湾金矿床的形成具有密切的成因联系。     

安徽铜陵地区幔源镁铁质团块研究及其地质意义

幔源岩石包体研究,是认识上地幔岩石圈物质组成、幔源岩浆演化及壳幔动力学过程的重要手段。铜陵地区小铜官山石英二长闪长岩中发育有微粒闪长质包体,并且这些微粒闪长质包体中不均匀地分布着镁铁质团块,三者的形成过程可视为铜陵地区岩浆演化的缩影,为了解本区深部岩浆作用过程提供了有力的证据。在前人研究的基础上,笔者借助电子探针、扫描电镜、电镜能谱和二次飞行时间离子探针(Tof-SIMS)对产于铜陵地区微粒闪长质包体中的镁铁质团块进行了详细的研究,首次获得了一套精确的矿物化学资料和元素分布图,总结了镁铁质团块的特征,并讨论了本区的深部岩浆作用过程。矿物学研究表明,镁铁质团块中的角闪石和辉石均已发生了不同程度的透闪石化和阳起石化蚀变,蚀变过程中,从镁钙闪石到镁角闪石,再到透闪石,随着Si的增加,角闪石呈现出Mg的富集和Ti、Al贫化的特点。团块中的富Cr磁铁矿、Ti磁铁矿和少量的铝直闪石指示了其具有深源性。Tof-SIMS元素分布图显示,透闪石主要由Al、Si、Ca、Sc、V、Cr、Mn、Cu和Sr元素组成,透辉石主要由Si、Mg、Ca、Cu和Rb组成。在铜陵地区,上地幔部分熔融形成一套玄武岩浆,受岩浆底侵作用影响,玄武岩浆上侵,进入下地壳深位岩浆房,与下地壳硅镁层发生同化混染作用,形成一套轻度演化的中基性(辉长质)玄武岩浆,镁铁质团块就是这类中基性玄武岩浆直接结晶形成的。后受构造作用影响,这类中基性玄武岩浆上侵到中地壳岩浆房(12~16 km),与中地壳的变质岩系发生同化混染和结晶分异作用形成一套中性闪长质岩浆,微粒闪长质包体就是这套闪长质岩浆发生结晶分异作用而形成的。镁铁质团块和微粒闪长质包体清楚地解释了铜陵地区深部岩浆作用过程,并有力地证明了铜陵地区中地壳的闪长质岩浆来源于下地壳的壳幔混源岩浆。     

晶粥储存、侵入体累积组装与花岗岩成因

花岗质岩浆在地壳内的储存、迁移和分异,是导致大陆地壳生长演化的基本过程.有关地壳岩浆冷储存的新发现,挑战了数十年来深部存在以熔融体为主要组成的大岩浆房的观点.对活火山区的地球物理探测、岩石矿物学研究以及热历史模拟都一致证明,岩浆储库中的物质以晶粥为主,它们长时间处于固相线下的温度条件,属于冷储存状态.今天出露地表的大型侵入岩体,是古岩浆储库的代表,它们大都是在数百万年甚至更长的时间跨度内,多幕式的岩浆输运、累积侵位和多次添加组装而成的.侵入体的累积组装,可以通过岩石单元间接触关系的观察、岩石和矿物成分的不均一性研究以及侵入体内大的结晶时间跨度来证明.地壳浅部大型侵入体的形成,大体积的火山喷发,都要求存在穿地壳的岩浆通道系统,该系统中岩浆主要以岩墙形式将不同深度的岩浆储库串联起来,并通过无数岩床的堆垛而形成巨大的岩株或岩基等侵入体.高分异花岗岩和高硅流纹岩的存在,尤其是火山的超级喷发现象,要求岩浆储库的晶粥体发生活化和分异,而晶粥的解体往往是由于从下部侵入的新岩浆注入了额外的热和流体.保留在岩石中的晶体种群蕴含了侵入体累积组装、晶粥活化和岩浆分异的线索.尤其是再循环晶可以提供岩浆通道系统结构和演变的新信息.未来,在花岗岩成因研究中,重点要从晶粥活化与岩浆分异演化过程、岩浆上升和组装机制、火山岩与侵入岩的成因联系等方面入手,开展岩浆通道系统的跨学科研究,构建花岗岩岩浆过程研究的新范式,深入认识大陆地壳的生长和演化机理.      

流体不混溶性和流体包裹体

大多数流体包裹体是捕获于均匀体系,但有一部分包裹体捕获自非均匀体系(不混溶体系)。在自然界存在着许多不混溶的过程,这包括基性岩浆和酸性岩浆之间,岩浆与热液,岩浆与CO₂,盐水溶液与CO₂等。液体的不混溶性对于成矿作用十分重要,这方面有3个典型的例子,第一个是金矿的成矿作用与NaCl-H₂O-CO₂体系流体的不混溶有着重大的关系;第二个例子是斑岩铜矿;第三个例子是伟晶岩,发现在伟晶岩演化和成矿作用中存在着岩浆和热液的不混溶作用。实际上不混溶的大部分证据是从流体包裹体的研究中获得的。现在的问题是如何来确定哪些包裹体是从不混溶过程中捕获的。这种捕获于不混溶过程中的流体包裹体怎么来确定他的T_h和成分。这种捕获于不混溶过程中的流体包裹体怎么与"卡脖子"拉伸作用"中捕获的包裹体和捕获自均匀体系的流体包裹体相区分。     

安徽铜陵狮子山矿田岩浆岩锆石SHRIMP定年及其成因意义

铜陵狮子山矿田发育大量岩浆岩,且与矿田中的铜金多金属成矿关系密切。锆石SHRIMP同位素精确定年表明,矿田中的岩浆侵位年龄在132.4～142.9Ma之间,即晚侏罗世—早白垩世,属燕山早期晚阶段。矿田岩浆岩体是在同期岩浆活动中多次侵位形成的,岩浆侵入活动可以划分为分别起始于140Ma前后和约136Ma的早晚两次。从岩浆上升侵位到冷却结晶的时间间隔均较短,但其中白芒山辉石二长闪长岩冷却史相对较长,且经历了早期深部岩浆房中的分离结晶作用和后期构造脉动、岩浆上升侵位、减压受热、早期晶体再熔蚀及冷却结晶的过程。结合主量元素和微量元素地球化学研究认为,狮子山矿田岩浆演化的后期,即起源于上地幔或下地壳的原生岩浆在同化了壳源物质并聚集到岩浆房中以后,在滞留的过程中发生了一定程度的分离结晶作用,但尚未固结,成分上显示了一定的带状分布,在区域构造应力松弛及构造事件诱发下,随机地沿发育的构造裂隙先后上升侵位,冷凝结晶。     

Plagioclase residence times at two island arc volcanoes (Kameni Islands, Santorini, and Soufriere, St. Vincent) determined by Sr diffusion systematics

The diffusive relaxation of trace element profiles in plagioclase phenocrysts may provide important constraints on magma residence times in crustal magma chambers. Initial trace element profiles in plagioclase phenocrysts are governed by variations in the concentration of a trace element in the melt and by the plagioclase-melt partition coefficient. Trace element diffusion will subsequently act to modify this initial profile and – given enough time – produce a profile that is in equilibrium with the anorthite variations within the crystal. We argue that the trace element partition coefficient D^a/b between two parts a and b of a plagioclase crystal of variable anorthite content is equal to the ratio of their crystal-liquid partition coefficients, and that the equilibrium profile of the crystal can be calculated. The time required to establish diffusive equilibrium is dependent on the wavelength and amplitude of the initial trace element concentration range and on the diffusivity of the trace element in plagioclase. Strontium plagioclase-melt partition coefficients and diffusivities are calculated for a range of magmatic temperatures and plagioclase compositions. A one-dimensional diffusion model is developed that describes the diffusive destruction of oscillatory trace element zoning with time and allows the calculation of upper limits for plagioclase crystal residence times in a magma reservoir. The model is tested using major and trace element concentrations measured along crystal traverses of plagioclase phenocrysts from the Kameni Island dacites, Santorini, and from the 1979 Soufriere andesite, St. Vincent. Three out of eight plagioclase phenocrysts have Sr concentration profiles that are not in diffusive equilibrium. For these, the diffusion model is employed to calculate maximum crystal residence times from incomplete diffusive equilibration of trace element zoning in plagioclase. Maximum crystal residence times range from 100 to 450 years. This is in good agreement with estimates from crystal size distribution and from Ra-Th disequilibrium studies for the Kameni Islands. For Soufriere, however, such short residence times are incompatible with U-Th mineral errorchron data that suggest residence times of >40 ka in a thermally buffered magma reservoir. To reconcile these apparently different ages, we invoke a more complicated magmatic history for Soufriere where an initially buffered magma reservoir is disturbed by magma mixing and suffers limited additional crystal fractionation prior to eruption. Received: 20 October 1998 / Accepted: 22 March 1999     

新疆哈密黄山铜镍硫化物矿床地质特征

黄山铜镍硫化物矿床产于黄山镁铁—超镁铁杂岩体中.岩体分异良好,由七个岩相带组成,主要矿体产于辉橄岩相底部,呈盆状;主要金属矿物有镍黄铁矿、黄铜矿、紫硫镍矿及磁黄铁矿;矿石大都为浸染状贫矿石.文中着重讨论成矿物质来源、成矿元素丰度.成矿物化条件及成矿过程和成矿模式.     

阿尔泰可可托海伟晶岩中弧形石英白云母层的成因及意义

石英白云母层时常紧贴伟晶岩侵入体的边界出现且平行边界延伸。但是在新疆阿尔泰可可托海伟晶岩型稀有金属矿区伟晶岩体中石英白云母层出现了三种不同类型的弧形起伏,这些弧形形态仅用矿物的定向生长是难以解释的。弧形石英白云母层具有统一的"背地性"指向(弧形凸起顶端一律朝上)并且越靠近伟晶岩侵入体的顶部弧形凸起越明显,在侵入体侧部边界的石英白云母层不存在弧形凸起形态。这些形态特点与浮力作用下形成的形态具有可比性,暗示浮力与弧形石英白云母层间存在密切的成因联系。石英白云母层与石英钠长石层的间隔出现指示伟晶岩浆中挥发分含量的周期性增加。挥发分含量的周期性增加导致了挥发分不断加入未固结的剩余岩浆中并向伟晶岩体顶部上升,逐步在伟晶岩侵入体的顶部形成了弧形石英白云母层。弧形石英白云母层的大量出现不仅说明伟晶岩侵入体规模较大,也暗示存在有利的挥发分保存环境,对伟晶岩型稀有金属矿产的形成和稀有金属找矿预测起到非常重要的作用。     

新疆富蕴地区希勒库都克铜钼矿床含矿斑岩的年代学与地球化学特征

位于新疆富蕴县境内的希勒库都克铜钼矿属于斑岩型矿床。含矿花岗斑岩和石英闪长岩为弱过铝质高钾钙碱性岩石,具有相对富集大离子亲石元素、亏损Nb、Ta、Ti元素的地球化学特征。获得含矿花岗斑岩SIMS锆石Ｕ-Pb年龄（329.6±4.1）Ma。综合分析,花岗斑岩和石英闪长岩可能为同一岩浆不同演化阶段的产物。据含矿岩石高的正εNd（t）值、低的87Sr/86Sr初始值推测,其原始岩浆起源于亏损地幔源区。     

云南腾冲黑空山、马鞍山和打莺山火山粗安岩显微结构特征及其火山学意义

火山喷发物记录了岩浆的整个活动历史,对火山喷发物的研究可以了解大量的岩浆活动特征信息。本文对腾冲火山区的三座全新世火山——黑空山、马鞍山和打莺山火山熔岩进行了详细的研究,包括熔岩和斑晶的成分、显微结构特征和斑晶的晶体大小分布(CSD)分析。研究发现,黑空山、马鞍山和打莺山火山熔岩以粗安岩为主,三座火山粗安岩中的斑晶成分范围接近,但它们的显微结构特征具有一定的差异,反映了不同的岩浆环境,推测来自不同的岩浆囊。黑空山粗安岩中斜长石斑晶的CSD曲线呈微上凹形,反映了小规模的岩浆混合作用。马鞍山和打莺山粗安岩的微斑晶CSD曲线呈很好的线性关系,说明微斑晶形成时的环境相对稳定,推测这些微斑晶是在岩浆上升过程中,停留在地壳的某处并形成一个小型的岩浆囊后受围岩的冷却作用形成。根据以上的分析,认为腾冲火山区下在横向和纵向上均至少存在两个岩浆囊。     

Bubbling Magma Chambers,Cupolas, and Porphyry Copper Deposits

Porphyry copper deposits are the major source of copper and significant sources of molybdenum, gold, and other metals. They are associated with the near-surface intrusion of small stocks of intermediate composition. They can form when H₂O-unsaturated magma is emplaced into wall rock that is cool enough that steep lateral thermal gradients create a narrow solidification front. At depths less than ～4 km, cooling and crystallization cause fluid saturation to occur within sidewall magma that is mobile because it contains less than ～25% suspended crystals. After a sufficient volume of bubbles forms, mobile sidewall magma buoyantly rises instead of sinking. The bubbles expand as they decompress, and at depths of ～2 km they become large enough to rise on their own. separate from the upwelled magma, and charge the cupola at the top of the stock with magmatic fluid. The partially degassed magma sinks into the interior of the stock.

Upwelling of saturated sidewall magma entrains deeper-seated, nearly saturated magma, which decompresses and saturates as it rises. As the system cools, the depth of H₂O saturation and sidewall upwelling increases. Bubbles of copper-rich fluid are generated where the saturation front extends to depths of ～6 km or more. Overall, the system is cooling, but the upward advection of heat maintains the cupola region at roughly constant position for the life of convective upwelling along the sidewalls.

Porphyry copper ore deposits can form where draining of the fluid pocket beneath a cupola is steady and a large volume of magma is cycled through the system. Magma in the stock that escapes to intrude commonly has a porphyritic texture because crystal growth is enhanced, and nucleation is suppressed when the magma is H₂O saturated. Porphyry copper deposits of common size can form during the solidification of large stocks. Super-giant porphyry copper deposits can form where the saturation front propagates from a stock into an underlying batholithic chamber with a magma volume on the order of 1000 km³ and a top at depths of 10 to 15 km.     

Interaction of coeval felsic and mafic magmas from the Kanker granite,Pithora region,Bastar Craton,Central India

Field and petrographic studies are carried out to characterize the interactions of mafic and felsic magmas from Pithora region of the northeastern part of the Bastar Craton. The MMEs, syn-plutonic mafic dykes, cuspate contacts, magmatic flow textures, mingling and hybridization suggest the coeval emplacement of end member magmas. Petrographic evidences such as disequilibrium assemblages, resorption textures, quartz ocelli, rapakivi and poikilitic textures suggest magma mingling and mixing phenomena. Such features of mingling and mixing of the felsic and mafic magma manifest the magma chamber processes. Introduction of mafic magmas into the felsic magmas before initiation of crystallization of the latter, results in hybrid magmas under the influence of thermal and chemical exchange. The mechanical exchange occurs between the coexisting magmas due to viscosity contrast, if the mafic magma enters slightly later into the magma chamber, then the felsic magma starts to crystallize. Blobs of mafic magma form as MMEs in the felsic magma and they scatter throughout the pluton due to convection. At a later stage, if mafic magma enters the system after partial crystallization of felsic phase, mechanical interaction between the magmas leads to the formation of fragmented dyke or syn-plutonic mafic dyke. All these features are well-documented in the study area. Field and petrographic evidences suggest that the textural variations from Pithora region of Bastar Craton are the outcome of magma mingling, mixing and hybridization processes.     

长白山区二道白河流域早更新世玄武质熔岩的成因

采用岩石化学和同位素分析方法,研究了二道白河流域早更新世玄武质熔岩的成因。玄武质熔岩由钠质拉斑玄武岩和钾质粗面玄武岩、玄武质粗面安山岩组成。它们的REE分配形式比较相近,表明它们来自共同的源区。Sr、Nd、Pb同位素示踪表明,二道白河流域早更新世玄武质熔岩岩浆源区接近于似原始地幔。它们的Mg#=100Mg O/(Mg O+Fe O)低于中国东部新生代玄武岩原始岩浆的Mg#(60~68),Ni(27.76×10-6~200.6×10-6)低于原始地幔,Rb/Sr(0.05~0.09)、Ba/Rb(15.64~264)高于原始地幔,说明这些岩石不是源自原始地幔。玄武质熔岩的DI变化于42~67,具有高Ca、高Sr、Eu正异常,微量元素图解显示玄武岩保留部分熔融趋势,粗面玄武岩、玄武质粗安岩具有结晶分异趋势,岩浆上升过程中发生了不同程度的地壳混染作用。玄武质熔岩的Nb/Ta之比为14.8~15.8,与勘察加半岛深俯冲带火山类似。Nb/Ta-(Na2O-K2O)关系图解显示研究区玄武质岩浆的形成与俯冲板片的部分熔融有关。     

Magma Mingling/mixing vs. Magmatic Fractionation: Geneses of the Shirakawa Mo-mineralized Granitoids, Central Japan

Abstract. Leucocratic biotite granites are main components in the Hatogaya pluton and the Hirase stock in the Shirakawa region of central Japan. Molybdenite‐quartz vein mineralizations are widespread in and around the Hatogaya pluton and the Hirase stock, in which the largest is vein swarm of the Hirase mine. Mafic enclaves occur abundantly with granitic to granodi‐oritic matrix in the northern part of the Hatogaya pluton, while they are rare in the Hirase granitic stock. The enclaves with generally round shape have mostly diabasic to fine plutonic textures under the microscope, and show interfingering and lobate contacts with the felsic matrix. The enclaves are quartz monzodiorite in composition containing SiO>₂ mostly around 60 %. They have felsic blebs, thus are considered a mingled magma of basaltic compositions originated in depth and a felsic magma generated from the Hida metamorphic‐plutonic complexes or their basement. The mingled magma further mixed with and reacted with the felsic magma with SiO₂ 70 %, and then formed granodiorite‐granite of the high Na group (Na₂O higher than 4.25 %). Thus, compositional variation of the northern part of the Hatogaya pluton was caused by the magma mingling. The mingling happened to be deeper level produced homogeneous granodiorite of the Mihoro pluton. Biotite granite of the low Na group (less than 4.25 %) could have originated in a granitic magma generated also from the Hida metamorphic‐plutonic complexes or their basement. Most of the granites, occurring in the southern part of the Hatogaya pluton and Hirase stock, show high Rb/Sr ratio, strong Eu negative anomalies and flat REE patterns, and are thus considered as fractionated products of the SiO₂ 70 % original magma. The strong concentration of molybdenum in the Hirase stock can be explained by high degree of magmatic fractionation which produced MoS₂‐rich residual melts, suitable fractures developed at the latest Cretaceous time, and preservation of the mineralized fractures at the present level of erosion.     

黑龙江省科洛—二克山富钾火山岩的辉石和长石巨晶

本文对富钾火山岩中单斜辉石、斜方辉石、长石巨晶的物理性质、化学成分、微量元素等特征进行了研究。文中还对巨晶的成因及对岩浆的影响问题,提出了作者自己的观点。     

Geochemistry of mafic microgranular enclaves in the Tamdere Quartz Monzonite, south of Dereli/Giresun, Eastern Pontides, Turkey

Rocks of the Late Cretaceous Tamdere Quartz Monzonite, constituting a part of the Eastern Pontide plutonism, include mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) ranging from spheroidal to ellipsoidal in shape, and from a few centimeters to decimeters in size. The MMEs are composed of diorite, monzodiorite and quartz diorite, whereas the felsic host rocks comprise mainly quartz monzonite, granodiorite and rarely monzogranite on the basis of both mineralogical and chemical compositions. The common texture of felsic host rocks is equigranular. MMEs are characterized by a microgranular texture and also reveal some special types of microscopic textures, e.g. antirapakivi, poikilitic K-feldspar, small lath-shaped plagioclase in large plagioclase, blade-shaped biotite, acicular apatite, spike zones in plagioclase and spongy-cellular plagioclase textures.

The distribution of major, trace and RE elements apparently reflect exchange between the MMEs and the felsic host rocks mainly due to thermal, mechanical and chemical interactions between coeval felsic host magma and mafic magma. The most evident major element transfer from felsic host magma to mafic magma blob is that of alkalis such as Na and K. LILEs such as Rb, Sr, Ba and some HFSEs such as Nb, Y, Zr and Th have been migrated from felsic host magma to MMEs. Apart from these major and trace elements, the other element transfer from felsic host magma to mafic one concerns REE contents. Such a transfer of REEs has evidently increased the LREE contents of MMEs. Enrichments in alkalis, LILEs, HFSEs and REEs could have been achieved by diffusional processes during the solidification of magma sources. The felsic and mafic magma sources behave as Newtonian and visco-plastic materials. In such an interaction, small MMEs behave as a closed system due to immediate rapid cooling, whereas the bigger MMEs suffer greater diffusion from the Newtonian felsic host magma due to slow cooling.     

Magma mixing: the Marsco suite,Isle of Skye,Scotland

Magma mixing has been proposed as a major mechanism for the origin of a wide variety of rock suites. In mid-ocean basalts there are few obstacles to mixing because of the similarities in chemical and physical properties of the proposed end-members. However, in calc-alkaline rocks the proposed end-members have disparate properties and these present obstacles to mixing.The Marsco suite is ideal to evaluate the process of magma mixing because it is considered to be a classic example of magma mixing of diverse magma types and because compositionally diverse, coexisting liquids were present throughout the area.The results of this study are that the chemical data for the Marsco suite fit a mixing model remarkably well and that the mixing did not take place at the present level of exposure. The Marsco mixed suite is similar to the experiments of Kouchi and Sunagawa (1982, 1983) in which mixing was produced by forced convection. Based on the Marsco suite, a similar occurrence in Ardnamurchan, and the experimental data, we conclude that mixing was dominated by mechanical mixing and this mechanical mixing was efficient enough to allow diffusional processes to homogenize the liquids.It is postulated that injection of mafic magma into the base of a silicic magma system leads to mixing and mobilization of the system. The mechanical interaction that produces the mixing also leads to disruption of the system. Liquids involved with the mixing process at depth are mobilized and coexist at shallower levels.