Comparison of the compositions of crystalline aluminosilicate rocks and their minerals in a planar triangular projection

The problem of comparison of the composition of crystalline rocks with the composition of the constituent minerals of these rocks is considered. It is proposed to present the composition of rocks and the compositions of the constituent minerals in the form of a triangle on the plane. The experience of presentation of compositions in phase diagrams was taken as a basis for the construction. Analysis of the crystallochemical characteristics of clinopyroxenes and garnets has shown that three parameters are enough for depicting the compositions of these and other minerals. For this purpose, similar composition components of rocks and their minerals are summarized in molecular proportions and are plotted on the triangle DO-1/2(R₂O3)-XO₂, where DO = (MgO + CaO + FeO + MnO + NiO + ...) + 1/4(Na₂O + Al₂O₃) + 1/4(K₂O + Al₂O₃), 1/2(R₂O₃) = 1/2(Al₂O₃ + Fe₂O₃ + Cr₂O₃ + ...) - (1/4(Na₂O + Al₂O₃) + 1/4(K₂O + Al₂O₃)), and XO₂ = SiO₂ + TiO₂. The compositions of minerals are expressed as the sums of their components: Ol = Fo + Fa + Lar + Neph + ..., Px = Di + En + Wol + Ged + Gip + Jd + Eg + ..., Ga = Pyr + Gross + Alm + Spe + Ski + Knr + Mj + ..., etc. A step-by-step calculation algorithm is proposed, which permits evaluation of the contents of bi- and trivalent iron during probe microanalyses of garnets and pyroxenes. Comparison of the compositions of deep-seated rocks and their minerals shows their good consistency. The proposed schematic projection permits a visual comparison of the compositions of rocks with low contents of carbonates and water, from ultrabasic (e.g., dunites) to acid (e.g., granites) ones.