Crystallization Conditions of the Sybille Monzosyenite, Laramie Anorthosite Complex, Wyoming

The Sybille Monzosyenite, associated with the Laramie AnorthositeComplex, consists of rocks ranging in composition from monzogabbroto monzosyenite. There is a continuous range of mineral compositionswith plagioclase varying from An₄₅ to An₂₅ and olivine fromFa₇₅ to Fa₉₈ Strongly ternary (Or, Ab, An all > 10 mol%)feldspars–presently mesoperthites–are found in allrock types and define a continuous trend also in the feldsparternary system. The mineral compositions suggest that the rocktypes of the Sybille Monzosyenite could be part of a singledifferentiation sequence; contamination of the later units byassimilation of, or admixture of partial melts from, countryrock is also likely. Original magmatic temperatures of approximately950–1050?C are indicated by estimated original compositionsfor pyroxenes and feldspars; pressure was near 3 kb, as indicatedby the most magnesian olivine that coexists with quartz. Oxygenfugacity of crystallization is estimated as 1.5 to 2.0 log unitsbelow FMQ by using the displaced equilibrium: SiO₂ + 2Fe₂TiO₃= 2FeTiO₃ + Fe₂SiO₄. Such oxygen fugacities are consistent withthe occurrence of graphite and CO₂-rich fluid inclusions, whichsuggest that crystallization took place in the presence of aCO₂ vapor phase. Temperatures indicated by the present mineralassemblages show that all geothermometers used were reset duringcooling, first by intergrain and then by intragrain processes.