Understanding Igneous
and Metamorphic system
Phase Equilibria and
Igneous Phase Diagrams
Understanding
Crystallization and Melting
Experiments & Theory
• Understand behavior
– Rocks during Melting
– Magmas during Crystallization
• Experiments
• Theory
– Thermodynamics
Hawaii Volcanoes:
Lava Lake Study
• Why aren t all igneous rocks the same?
• Two important points:
– Crystallization of a single magma can yield
many different igneous rocks
– Melting a single rock can yield a variety of
magma compositions
• How do we know this?
Phase Diagrams
• Phase Diagrams Depict
– Experimental results
– Theoretical Calculations
– Both
• Understanding melting &
crystallization
– Must understand phase diagrams
• Help understand natural systems
– Lava Lake Example
Makaopuhi Crater
1
 Makaopuhi Lava Lake Makaopuhi Lava Lake
Formed during 1965 Eruption Magma samples recovered from various
depths beneath solid crust

From Wright and Okamura, (1977) USGS Prof. Paper, 1004.

Makaopuhi Lava Lake Makaopuhi Lava Lake

Thermocouple attached to sampler to • Temperature of sample vs. Percent Glass
determine temperature 1250

1200
Temperature oc

1150

1100

1050

1000

950

900
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
From Wright and Okamura, (1977) USGS Prof. Paper, 1004.
Percent Glass
Fig. 6-1. From Wright and Okamura, (1977) USGS Prof. Paper, 1004.

Makaopuhi Lava Lake Makaopuhi Lava Lake

Minerals that form during crystallization Mineral composition during crystallization
Olivine Clinopyroxene Plagioclase Opaque
1250
100
Liquidus
Olivine Augite Plagioclase
1200
90
Weight % Glass

olivine 1150
Temperature o C

80
decreases
below 1100
70
1175oC Melt
Crust
1050
60

1000 50
.9 .8 .7 .9 .8 .7 .6 80 70 60
Solidus
Mg / (Mg + Fe) Mg / (Mg + Fe) An
950
0 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10
Fig. 6-2. From Wright and Okamura, (1977) USGS Prof. Paper, 1004. Fig. 6-3. From Wright and Okamura, (1977) USGS Prof. Paper, 1004.

2
 Crystallization Behavior of Melts
1. Cooling melts crystallize over a range of temperatures (and
pressures)
Crystallization Behavior of Melts
1. Cooling melts crystallize over a range of temperatures
2. Several minerals crystallize over this T range, and the number of
minerals increases as T decreases
3. The minerals form sequentially, with considerable overlap
Crystallization Behavior of Melts
1. Cooling melts crystallize over a range of temperatures (and
pressures)
2. Several minerals crystallize over this T range, and the number of
minerals increases as T decreases
3. The minerals form sequentially, with considerable overlap
4. Minerals that involve solid solution change composition as cooling
progresses
5. The melt composition also changes during crystallization
Crystallization Behavior of Melts
1. Cooling melts crystallize over a range of temperatures (and
pressures)
2. Several minerals crystallize over this T range, and the number of
minerals increases as T decreases
Crystallization Behavior of Melts
1. Cooling melts crystallize over a range of temperatures (and
pressures)
2. Several minerals crystallize over this T range, and the number of
minerals increases as T decreases
3. The minerals form sequentially, with considerable overlap
4. Minerals that involve solid solution change composition as cooling
progresses
Crystallization Behavior of Melts
1. Cooling melts crystallize range of temperatures (and pressures)
2. Several minerals crystallize over this T range, and the number of
minerals increases as T decreases
3. The minerals form sequentially, with considerable overlap
4. Minerals that involve solid solution change composition as cooling
progresses
5. The melt composition also changes during crystallization
6. The minerals that crystallize (as well as the sequence) depend on T
and X of the melt
3
 Crystallization Behavior of Melts
1. Cooling melts crystallize over a range of temperatures (and
pressures)
2. Several minerals crystallize over this T range, and the number of
minerals increases as T decreases
3. The minerals form sequentially, with considerable overlap
4. Minerals that involve solid solution change composition as cooling
progresses
5. The melt composition also changes during crystallization
6. The minerals that crystallize (as well as the sequence) depend on T
and X of the melt
7. Pressure can affect the types of minerals that form and the sequence
Crystallization Behavior of Melts
1. Cooling melts crystallize over a range of temperatures (and
pressures)
2. Several minerals crystallize over this T range, and the number of
minerals increases as T decreases
3. The minerals form sequentially, with considerable overlap
4. Minerals that involve solid solution change composition as cooling
progresses
5. The melt composition also changes during crystallization
6. The minerals that crystallize (as well as the sequence) depend on T
and X of the melt
7. Pressure can affect the types of minerals that form and the sequence
8. The nature and pressure of the volatiles can also affect the minerals
and their sequence

Remember The Phase Rule 1 - C Systems

2. The system H2O
F=C-f+2
F = # degrees of freedom
The number of intensive parameters that must be specified in
order to completely determine the system
f = # of phases
phases are mechanically separable constituents
C = minimum # of components (chemical constituents
that must be specified in order to define all phases)
2 = 2 intensive parameters
Usually = temperature and pressure

1 - C Systems 2-C Eutectic Systems

1. The system SiO2 Example: Diopside - Anorthite
No solid solution

Isobaric T-X phase diagram at atmospheric pressure.

4
 Augite forms before plagioclase Plagioclase forms before augite
Ophitic texture

Gabbro of the
Stillwater
Complex,
Montana

Diabase dike

This forms on the right side of the eutectic

This forms on the left side of the eutectic

Fractional crystallization: Partial Melting:

Isobaric T-X phase diagram at atmospheric pressure.

Concept More Universal 2 - C Systems

Not Just Igneous Rocks Systems with Complete Solid Solution

H2O-NaCl System
Plagioclase:
Ab-An: Isobaric T-X
Temperature, ˚C

NaAlSi3O8 – phase diagram

CaAl2Si2O8) at atmospheric
pressure.

5
 Binary Peritectic Systems
Three phases enstatite = forsterite + SiO2

Isobaric T-X Isobaric T-X phase

phase diagram diagram of the system
Fo-Silica at 0.1 MPa.
of the system
Fo-Silica at 0.1
MPa.

i = peritectic point
1557oC have colinear Fo-En-liq
✦ geometry indicates a reaction: Fo + liq = En
✦ consumes olivine (and liquid) ® resorbed textures

When is the reaction finished?

1557
k im
d c

Fo En
Bulk X

x
k i
y m
1557 1543
d Cr
c
bulk X
Fo En

6
Incongruent Melting of Enstatite Solid Solution with Eutectic:
✦ Melt of En does not ® melt of same composition Ab-Or (the alkali feldspars)
Rather En ® Fo + Liq i at the peritectic
✦
Eutectic
Partial Melting of Fo + En (harzburgite) mantle
liquidus
✦ En + Fo also ® first liq = i
minimum
✦ Remove i and cool i
✦ Result = ? T-X phase diagram of the
system albite-orthoclase
1557 1543 at 0.2 GPa H2O pressure.
d c
Cr

bulk X
Fo En

Effect of PH2O on Ab-Or

The Albite-K-feldspar system at various H2O pressures.

C = 3: Ternary Systems: T - X Projection of Di - An - Fo

Ternary Eutectic Di - An - Fo
Anorthite
Note three binary eutectics Isobaric diagram illustrating
No solid solution the liquidus temperatures in
the Di-An-Fo system at
Ternary eutectic = M atmospheric pressure (0.1
MPa).

M
T

Forsterite
Diopside