CHAPTER - 5

CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGICAL STUDY

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5.1 GENERAL

The chemical constituents of igneous rock fall into three categories as the major elements, the
minor elements and the trace elements. Major elements are typically with concentration of
more than 2 wt% and the minor elements fall in between 0.1 and 2 wt%. The elements
normally represent in the form of their simple oxides. In the present study, quantitative
chemical analysis was carried out for only the major elements. The mineralogy of an igneous
rock is in important characteristics since it is used for classification of rocks, interpretation of
origin and evolution of magmas. The mineralogy of a rock can be observed and measured
respectively using optical or chemical analysis. In the present context, the chemical and
mineralogical studies were conducted to understand their influence on the reflectance spectral
characteristics of rock types.

5.2 KADAVUR ANORTHOSITE – ANALOG FOR LUNAR ANORTHOSITE

The lunar highland region covers nearly 83% of lunar crust, mostly composed of ferron
anorthosites, Mg rich dunite and gabbroic anorthosites and KREEP rocks. The lunar highland
crust mainly composed of anorthosite composition, which evidence from the occurrence of
anorthositic rock fragments in the Apollo 11 return samples (Wood et al 1970 and Smith et al
1970). The lunar anorthosites mainly composed of plagioclase (> 90% Ca rich) and minor
amount of mafic minerals such as pyroxene and olivine (Peterson et al 1997, Heiken et al
1981, Frondel 1975). Anbazhagan and Arivazhagan (2010) have studied the terrestrial
anorthosites located at Sittampundi complex as equivalent of lunar highland anorthosite. In
addition, they have studied the spectral characteristics of analog anorthosites. In this context,
the Neoproterozoic anorthosites located at Kadavur structure is considered in the present
study and to explore its chemistry and mineralogy for comparison with lunar anorthosites.
The younger anorthosites are expected to differ from Sittampundi anorthosite complex and
lunar anorthosites and it will be discussed in the forthcoming chapters.

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5.3 SAMPLE COLLECTION

Field investigation is an integral part of the present study and number of visits was carried out
for collection of rock samples and structural measurements. The rock samples such as
anorthosites, anorthositic gabbro, norite, quartzite, calc granulite, quartz, pegmatite and
hornblende-biotite gneiss were collected. The basin area mainly covered by soil formation
with randomly exposed outcrops. The outcrops are also exposed along drainages and river
course. Fresh rock samples were collected from various locations namely Vadakkikulam,
Sirumampatty, Valaiyapatty, Kilakku Rajapatty, Idaiyapatty, Kanavai, Sukkampatty,
Mamarathupatty, Mammaniyur, Kadavur and Kujiliyamparai (Table 5.1). The rock samples
collected from the field are shown in figures 5.1 & 5.2.

Table 5.1 Rock samples and their locations in Kadavur basin

Sl. No. Sample No. Sample Name Lat. Long. Elev. Location Name
(mts)
1 KA-1 Anorthosite 10°36'14.3" N 273 Vadakkikulam
78°12'58.5" E
2 KA-2 Anorthosite 10°36'03.7" N 267 Vadakkikulam West
78°12'45.6" E
3 KA-3 Anorthosite 10°36'22.0" N 290 Kadavur North
78°11'54.4" E
4 KA-4 Anorthosite 10°36'08.7" N 283 Sirumampatti
78°11'56.6" E
5 KA-5 Anorthosite 10°35'28.1" N 329 Valaiyapatti
78°09'51.6" E
6 KA-6 Anorthosite 10°34'44.5" N 301 Killakku Rajapatti
78°12'04.6" E
7 KGA-1 Anorthositic 10°36'10.1" N 284 Sukkampatti
Gabbro 78°13'24.1" E
8 KN-1 Norite 10°35'28.1" N 329 Valaiyapatti
78°09'51.6" E
9 KQZ-1 Quratzite 10°36'53.5" N 254 Kanavai
78°13'45.5" E
10 KQZ-2 Quratzite 10°33'11.5" N 405 Mamarathupatti
78°09'33.0" E
11 KQZ-3 Quratzite 10°32'33.1" N 409 Mammaniyur
78°08'17.1" E
12 KQ-1 Quartz 10°36'14.3" N 273 Vadakkikulam
78°12'58.5" E
13 KP-1 Pegmatite 10°36'03.7" N 267 Vadakaikulam West
78°12'45.6" E
14 KHBG-1 Hornblende 10°39'44.1" N 296 Kujiliyamparai
Biotite Gneiss 78°07'36.9" E

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Fig. 5.1 (a to f) Anorthosite rock samples collected from Kadavur structure for chemical,
mineralogical and reflectance spectral studies.

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Fig. 5.2 (a to f) Anorthositic gabbro (KGA-1), norite (KN-14), quartzite (KQZ-1), quartz
(KQ-1), pegmatite (KP-1) and hornblende biotite gneiss (KHBG-1) rock samples collected
from Kadavur structure.

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5.4 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Chemical analysis of Kadavur anorthosites and other rock samples were carried out for major
oxides. The rock samples were powdered into 400 mesh sizes and sent for chemical analysis.
The chemical analysis was carried out at Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS),
Trivandrum using X-ray Fluorescence analysis (XRF) method. XRF method is the emission
of characteristic secondary (or fluorescent) X-rays from a material that has been excited by
bombarding with high-energy X-rays. Atoms of a particular element emit an X-ray spectrum
in which certain characteristics frequencies are intense, reflecting the precise energies of
abundant electron transition in exited atoms. Quantitative analysis involves the measurement
of these intensities for the unknown rock and then comparison of these measurements to
those of a standard material of known concentration (Blatt et al 2006). The phenomenon is
widely used for elemental and chemical analysis. The major oxides include SiO2, TiO2,
Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O and P2O5 were obtained in the analysis. The
outcome of the results is utilized for classification of rocks into anorthosite, anorthositic
gabbro, gabbroic anorthosite, gabbro and noritic rocks.

Gabbroic anorthosites have 10-22.5% mafic mineral components and anorthositic gabbros
have 22.5-35% mafic mineral components. The average compositions of major and minor
elements in weight percentage of oxides in Kadavur anorthosites are listed in the Table 5.2.
chemical compositions of other rock types such as anorthositic gabbro, norite, quartzite,
quartz, pegmatite and hornblende biotite gneiss are listed in Table 5.3.

5.5 PETROLOGY AND MINERALOGICAL STUDY

Thin sections were prepared from anorthosite, gabbro, norite and quartzites rock samples to
study the mineral assemblages and textures. Thin slices of rock samples were cut by using
diamond saw and trimmed to fit on a glass slide. These slices were glued to the microscope
slide with clear epoxy glue. The slides were mounted on a special holder and ground on a
diamond lap up to 0.03mm thickness. The thickness of thin sections were measured with a
digital micrometer and checked under the microscope for improvement of good sections for
further microscopic interpretation. The thin sections were studied under Petrological
Polarizing Trinocular Microscope under crossed nicols and plan polarized conditions. The
petrological microscopes equipped with photographic attachment facilities at IISc Bangalore
and Periyar University were utilized for capturing photomicrographs at different scale (Fig.
5.3).

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 Table 5.2 Major and minor elements in weight percentage of oxides in Kadavur anorthosites

Oxides Kadavur Anorthosites

(wt%) KA-1 KA-2 KA-3 KA-4 KA-5 KA-6 Average

SiO2 51.39 51.61 51.50 49.65 50.48 53.96 51.43

TiO2 0.30 0.25 0.31 0.25 1.32 0.31 0.46
Al2O3 22.24 23.55 24.06 24.31 23.92 27.08 24.19
MnO 0.08 0.07 0.05 0.05 0.09 0.01 0.06
Fe2O3 5.33 4.71 4.33 4.42 6.16 1.73 4.45
MgO 5.59 4.32 3.60 4.18 2.04 0.67 3.40
CaO 11.21 11.20 12.48 12.91 11.49 11.00 11.72
Na2O 3.08 3.31 2.80 3.23 3.35 4.19 3.33
K2O 0.16 0.29 0.33 0.39 0.55 0.43 0.36
P2O5 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.02
Total 99.41 99.32 99.48 99.39 99.42 99.39 99.42

Table 5.3 Major and minor elements in weight percentage of oxides in other rock types of
Kadavur structure

Oxides
KGA-1 KN-1 KQZ-18 KQZ-2 KQZ-3 KQ-1 KP-1 KHBG-1
(wt %)
SiO2 50.16 46.88 98.83 95.37 94.69 98.92 74.43 63.78
TiO2 0.36 0.66 0.08 0.11 0.13 0.01 0.07 0.77
Al2O3 19.72 17.40 0.58 2.63 3.04 0.51 15.55 14.71
MnO 0.10 0.19 ND ND ND ND 0.04 0.12
Fe2O3 6.35 11.27 0.35 1.46 1.64 0.34 0.41 6.43
MgO 7.16 7.74 0.04 0.13 0.08 0.06 0.11 0.40
CaO 12.63 13.44 0.03 0.04 0.09 ND 1.32 3.94
Na2O 2.48 1.80 0.05 0.11 0.09 0.06 4.09 3.39
K2O 0.27 0.04 0.03 0.14 0.18 0.05 3.66 5.15
P2O5 0.01 0.01 ND ND ND ND 0.01 0.38
Total 99.24 99.42 99.99 99.99 99.94 99.95 99.69 99.07
(KGA: Anorthositic gabbro, KN: Norite, KQZ: Quartzite, KQ: Quartz, KP: Pegmatite KHBG:
Hornblende-biotite gneiss)

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 Fig. 5.3 Petrological Trinocular Microscope utilized for petrographical
studies at Photogeology Laboratory, Periyar University.

Optical properties of minerals were studied under crossed and uncrossed nicol condition by
using thin sections to infer the type of minerals present in the samples. The optical properties
of minerals observed under the petrological microscope include color, pleochroism, form,
cleavage and relief under plane polarised light. The other optical properties such as
isotropism, interference color, extinction angle and twinning are studied under crossed nicol
condition. Plagioclase minerals generally have polysynthetic twinning. Pyroxenes are
characterized by dark green colour and metallic luster and their segregations display a tabular
or irregular habit. The orthopyroxenes are pleochroic in pale pink and green color.

They also show well developed lamellar structure. The following microphotographs are
illustrating the various minerals assemblages in anorthosites (Fig. 5.4 to 5.9), anorthositic
gabbro (Fig. 5.10) and norite (Fig. 5.11) obtained from Kadavur structure.

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Fig. 5.4 Microphotographs of anorthosite (KA-1): (a) clinopyroxenes and diminutive rutile
and ilmenites are spread through plagioclase as poikilitic texture, orthopyroxenes are highly
altered by fractures (b) subhedral orthopyroxene (Opx) is surrounded by clinopyroxene
(Cpx). Unidentified tiny minerals are spreadout as poikilitics (c) quartz is clear with low
relief and low order interference colors intruded in between fractured orthopyroxene and
clinopyroxene, tremolite laths are seen at top right (d) plagioclase shown in twinning, quartz
and orthopyroxenes are shown in subhedral form as porphyritic texture.

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Fig. 5.5 Microphotographs of anorthosite (KA-2): (a) strongly deformed, fractured
plagioclase shown in between orthopyroxenes, needle like inclusion occur after deformation
(b) large orthopyroxene grain is surrounded by sodic pyroxene (acmite), plagioclase with
typical polysynthetic twinning (c) acmite (aegirine) intrusion shows in between plagioclase,
orthopyroene (Opx) exsolution with plagioclase at left top of the photograph (d) Microcline
(orthoclase) shows its very common cross-hatched or “tarton” twinning in between
polysynthetic twinned plagioclase.

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Fig. 5.6 Microphotographs of anorthosite (KA-3): (a) orthopyroxene, orthoclase (Ols) and
plagioclase are intermingled with each other (b) diopside intruded within plagioclase and
orthopyroxene. Quartz grains also present with low relief (c) highly altered fractured
plagioclase and orthopyroxene (d) a large grain of microcline (orthoclase) shows cross-
hatched twinning in between plagioclase.

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Fig. 5.7 Microphotographs of anorthosite (KA-4): (a) highly fractured clinopyroxene.
Plagioclase showing zipra stripe twinning (b) fractured plagioclase show polysynthetic
twinning (c) altered plagioclase with clinopyroxene (d) olivine occur in between diopside
(Cpx) and plagioclase.

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Fig. 5.8 Microphotographs of anorthosite (KA-5): (a) Intrusion of quartz grains in between
orthopyroxene and plagioclase. Orthopyroxene is exsolution with plagioclse at near bottom
left (b) The material forming a sickle-shaped patch showing higher relief and high order
interference colors, is talc associated with olivine (c) orthopyroxene exsolution with
plagioclase at near bottom edge, clinoproxenes occur with clear relief (d) orthopyroxene
show near the center of the view with higher relief.

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Fig. 5.9 Microphotographs of anorthosite (KA-6): (a) several grains of plagioclase and
quartz, a grain of faintly twinned orthoclase and brown grains of biotite intermingled with
each other (b) orthopyroxene exsolution with plagioclase, chlorite intrusion with biotite (c)
complex twinning in plagioclase, two sets of twins nearly perpendicular in the largest grain.
In other grains the twinning is discontinuous (d) zipra stripe twinning in plagioclase and
chlorite, rutile, olivine, quartz are dispersed nearby orthopyroxene.

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Fig. 5.10 Microphotographs of anorthositic gabbro (KGA-1): (a) plagioclase with twinning
and a reliefless big grain of quartz is embeded within oprthopyroxene in the centre (b) quartz
intruded in between orthopyroxenes, clinopyroxenes and plagioclase (c) clinopyroxenes are
spreadout in plagioclae, the opaque one is hematite (d) altered orthopyroxene is exsolution
with plagioclase.

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Fig. 5.11 Microphotographs of norite (KN-1): (a) orthopyroxene is surrounded by calcite and
plagioclase, opaque ones are hematite (b) subhedral form, high relief mineral grains of
plagioclase and clinopyroxenes (c) cross hatched twinning orthoclase exsolution with
plagioclase, the opaque grain is hematite, cordierite twins appear similar to some plagioclase
(d) subhedral to anhedral form of plagioclase and pyroxene minerals, a large sodic pyroxene
(acmite) observed with high relief.

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The minerals found in Kadavur structure is in order of abundance are; plagioclase feldspar
(An38-An60), hornblende, orthopyroxene (En42-En8o), clinopyroxene and minor amount of
scapolite, calcite, apatite, sphene and biotite (subramaniam, 1956). For visual appearance the
hand specimen looks bluish grey to grey color with increase in the proportion of mafic
minerals, the rocks get mottled with greenish batches of orthopyroxene. The grains are
subhedral and intergranular in nature, phaneric texture with medium to coarse grained.
Hypersthene (orthopyroxene), augite and Diopside (Clinopyroxenes) are primary mafic
minerals. Pyroxene crystals are prominent surrounded by hornblende. The accessory
minerals are spinel, ilmenite, magnetite, rutile and sulfides of iron, which are mostly
indistinct in thin section. The major and minor minerals present in the Kadavur structure are
listed in the Table 5.4.

Table 5.4 Major and Minor minerals present in the rock samples of Kadavur structure

Major Minerals Minor minerals

Plagioclase Scapolite
Orthopyroxene Calcite
Clinopyroxene Apatite
Hornblende Sphene
Quartz Biotite
Sillimanite Ilmenite
Magnetite
Hematite
Chlorite

5.5.1 Norms classification

In order to calculate the percentage of minerals, the CIPW norm calculation was adopted.
Normative mineralogy is an estimate of the mineralogy of the rock. It usually differs from the
visually observable mineralogy. Normative mineralogy is a geochemical calculation of the
whole rock geochemistry of a rock sample that estimates the idealized mineralogy of a rock
according to the principles of geochemistry. In this estimation, a rock is chemically analyzed
to determine the elemental constituents. In general, major elements are expressed as oxides in
chemical analysis. The normative mineralogy of the rock is then calculated, based upon
assumptions about the order of mineral formation and known phase relationships of rocks and
minerals, and using simplified mineral formulas.

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The Excel spreadsheet program available in the web is used to calculate a modified CIPW
norm using the whole rock compositions. The percentage of various minerals in Kadavur
anorthosites calculated using modified CIPW norm are given in the Table 5.5. The
plagioclase minerals in Kadavur anorthosites are found in An60-An69, which can be
considered to be labradorites. Pyroxenes, ilmanite and hematite are other important mafic
constituents presented in Kadavur anorthosites. The percentage of major minerals in Kadavur
anorthosites are presented in the Table 5.6.

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 Table 5.5 The estimated percentage of minerals in Kadavur anorthosites based on modified CIPW Norm calculation

% of minerals KA-1 KA-2 KA-3 KA-4 KA-5 KA-6 Average

Quartz 2.55 2.337 3.973 0 3.082 3.57 2.59
Orthoclase 0.946 1.71 1.95 2.3 3.25 2.54 2.12
Plagioclase Albite 26.06 28 23.69 27.33 28.34 35.45 28.15
Anorthite 46.38 48.5 52.1 50.68 48.6 53.81 50.01
Pyroxene Diopside(Clino) 6.41 4.95 6.89 9.77 3.08 0 5.18
Hypersthene(Ortho) 10.95 8.46 5.77 0.49 3.65 1.66 5.16
Olivine - - - 3.77 - - 0.63
Hematite 5.33 4.71 4.33 4.42 6.16 1.73 4.45
Ilmenite 0.17 0.15 0.1 0.1 0.19 0.02 0.12
Apatite 0.09 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.07 0.07 0.05
Tn 0.515 0.42 0.623 0.476 2.992 0.398 0.90
Total 99.4 99.3 99.446 99.376 99.414 99.248 99.36
Normative plagioclase An64 Ab36 An63 Ab37 An69 Ab31 An65 Ab35 An63 Ab37 An60 Ab40 An64 Ab36

Table 5.6 The percentage of major minerals in Kadavur anorthosites

Percentage of KA-1 KA-2 KA-3 KA-4 KA-5 KA-6 Average

minerals
Plagioclase 72.44 76.5 75.79 78.01 76.94 89.26 78.16
Pyroxene 17.36 13.41 12.66 10.26 6.73 1.66 10.34
Mafic (Iron oxides) 5.5 4.86 4.43 4.52 6.35 1.75 4.57
Others 4.101 4.487 6.566 6.586 9.394 6.578 6.29
Total 99.401 99.257 99.446 99.376 99.414 99.248 99.36

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5.6 MINERAL CHEMISTRY

The rock samples such as anorthosites, gabbro, and norite were chosen to study the mineral
chemistry by using Electronic Micro Probe analyzer (EPMA) at Department of Earth
Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. The analysis was carried out using
CAMECA SX Five Electron microprobe Analyzer (Fig. 5.12). The thin sections were well
polished (using alumina powder upto 1, 0.5, 0.01 micron level polishing) and coated with a
thin film of carbon, using pure graphite rods at 10-3 vacuum condition for the purpose of
obtaining uniform electrical conductivity over the sample surface in order to avoid negative
charge buildup at point of electron heating and also to measure the sample current with
respect to mineral standards used during micro probe analysis.

Fig. 5.12 CAMECA SX Five Electronic Micro Probe analyzer (EPMA) at Department of
Earth Sciences, IITB, Mumbai.

Electronic Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) is a non-destructive method for determining

chemical compositions of materials. Electron Microprobe analyzer system consists of Mono
CL3 cathodoluminescence system for high Resolution Imaging and Spectroscopy, Super
Electron Microprobe and INCA Energy Dispersive Spectrometer. The electron microprobe
can quantitatively analyze elements from atomic numbers from 9 to 92 at concentrations of

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>1-20 ppm depending on the elements. The EPMA is based on the bombardment of incident
electrons to generate secondary X-rays from the sample. X-rays from each element have a
distinctive wavelength. X-rays emitted by the sample in the electron microprobe allows
quantification of element concentrations in the sample. The Electron Microprobe has four
main components: (1) electron gun, a heated tungsten filament emits electron to generate an
electron beam: (2) vacuum system, to avoid oxidation of the tungsten filament and scattering
of electrons: (3) the beam column, magnetic and objective lenses used to focus the beam on
the sample; and (4) X-ray spectrometers to measure X-rays emitted from the sample.

The accelerating voltage was 25kV, probe current of 10mA and beam diameters of 5 microns
were maintained. Correction procedure was followed with a counting time of 5 seconds and
the data were regressed using oxide-ZAF method. The standards and calibrations adopted in
the EPMA instrument is given in Annexure I. Major and minor elemental compositions (Si,
Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K) of plagioclase, pyroxenes and amphibole were determined
from a selected polished thin sections of rock samples. Representative compositions of
minerals in selected samples are given in the Table 5.7.

Plagioclase

The plagioclase mineral analysis was carried out from three anorthosite, one gabbro and one
norite rock samples. The analysis has shown moderate SiO2 content (46.50-53.79), high
Al2O3 content (28.58-33.38) and CaO vary from 11.83 to 17.34, variable Na2O (1.95-5.35)
and low K2O (0.02-0.09). The Ca# (Ca/[Ca+Na+K]) ranges from 0.55 to 0.83. The average
composition of major and minor oxides in plagioclase minerals is shown in the Table 5.8.
End member composition of plagioclase is given in the Table 5.9.

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 Table 5.7 Mineral chemistry of anorthosite, gabbro and norite rock samples of Kadavur basin
Rock type Anorthosite Gabbro Norite
Sample No KA1 KA2 KA4 KGA1 KN1
Mineral Pl Hbl Pl Hbl Chl Pl Hbl Chl Pl Hbl Pl Hbl Cpx Opx
No. of oxygen 8 23 8 23 28 8 23 28 8 23 8 23 6 6

SiO2 46.50 46.79 53.67 46.36 27.12 53.79 44.22 27.74 52.06 48.53 50.99 44.01 50.32 51.61
TiO2 0.01 0.67 0 0.51 0.02 0.01 0.75 0.08 0 0.6 0.04 1.34 0.62 0.04
Al2O3 33.38 9.8 28.85 10.04 20.46 28.58 10.71 19.43 29.93 7.58 30.28 11.56 3.79 1.99
MnO 0.01 0.16 0.01 0.18 0.13 0.01 0.17 0.25 0 0.17 0.01 0.15 0.16 0.48
FeO 0.08 11.47 0.11 12.64 19.93 0.12 13.07 20.76 0.18 11.77 0.24 11.59 8.41 22.52
MgO 0 13.98 0 12.96 18.38 0 12.35 17.87 0 14.07 0 13.02 13.06 21.25
CaO 17.34 11.58 11.96 11.97 0.05 11.83 11.54 0.09 13.32 12.57 13.76 12.08 22.11 0.5
Na2O 1.95 1.06 5.21 1.03 0.02 5.35 1.28 0.02 4.43 0.82 4.11 2.19 0.59 0.01
K2O 0.02 0.2 0.05 0.29 0.01 0.07 0.59 0.03 0.09 0.43 0.05 0.05 0 0
BaO 0 0.01 0 0 0 0.02 0.01 0.01 0 0.01 0.01 0.01 0 0.01
Total 99.29 95.72 99.86 95.98 86.12 99.78 94.69 86.28 100.01 96.55 99.49 96 99.06 98.41

Si 2.155 6.896 2.435 6.866 5.637 2.443 6.693 5.784 2.369 7.116 2.337 6.539 1.897 1.957
Ti 0 0.074 0 0.057 0.003 0 0.085 0.013 0 0.066 0.001 0.15 0.018 0.001
Al 1.824 1.702 1.543 1.753 5.013 1.53 1.91 4.774 1.605 1.31 1.636 2.024 0.168 0.089
Fe 0.003 1.414 0.004 1.566 3.465 0.005 1.654 3.62 0.007 1.443 0.009 1.44 0.265 0.714
Mn 0 0.02 0 0.022 0.023 0 0.021 0.044 0 0.021 0 0.019 0.005 0.015
Mg 0 3.072 0 2.862 5.696 0 2.786 5.554 0 3.076 0 2.884 0.734 1.201
Ca 0.861 1.829 0.581 1.9 0.011 0.576 1.871 0.02 0.649 1.975 0.676 1.923 0.893 0.02
Na 0.175 0.303 0.458 0.296 0.008 0.471 0.376 0.008 0.391 0.233 0.365 0.631 0.043 0.001
K 0.001 0.038 0.003 0.055 0.003 0.004 0.114 0.008 0.005 0.08 0.003 0.009 0 0
Total 5.021 15.328 5.024 15.353 19.858 5.029 15.49 19.825 5.026 15.299 5.027 15.6 4.023 3.998

Mg/(Fe+Mg) 0 0.685 0 0.646 0.622 0 0.627 0.605 0 0.681 0 0.667 0.735 0.627
Ca/(Ca+Na+K) 0.83 0.843 0.558 0.844 0.5 0.548 0.792 0.556 0.621 0.863 0.648 0.75 0.954 0.952
Mg/(Fe+Mg+Ca+Mn) 0 0.485 0 0.451 0.619 0 0.44 0.601 0 0.472 0 0.46 0.387 0.616

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 Table 5.8 Major oxides in plagioclase minerals of Kadavur anorthosite

Rock Type Anorthosite

Sample No KA1 KA2 KA4 Average
Mineral Pl Pl Pl
SiO2 46.50 53.67 53.79 51.32
TiO2 0.01 0 0.01 0.01
Al2O3 33.38 28.85 28.58 30.27
MnO 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
FeO 0.08 0.11 0.12 0.10
MgO 0 0 0 0.00
CaO 17.34 11.96 11.83 13.71
Na2O 1.95 5.21 5.35 4.17
K2 O 0.02 0.05 0.07 0.05
BaO 0 0 0.02 0.01
Total 99.29 99.86 99.78 99.64

Table 5.9 End member composition of plagioclase mineral, recalculated from weight percent
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Oxides Molecular Wt % Molecular Atomic No. of Anions No. of End member
Weight of Proportion proportion on the basis atom in composition
oxides of oxygen of 8 oxygens formula
from each [i.e. Col. (4) x
molecule 2.746]
SiO2 60.085 51.32 0.854 1.708 4.692 2.346
TiO2 79.899 0.01 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Al2O3 101.961 30.27 0.297 0.891 2.446 1.631 CaO = 0.671
FeO 71.846 0.10 0.001 0.001 0.004 0.004 Na2O = 0.370
MnO K2O = 0.003
70.937 0.01 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.001
Total = 1.044
MgO 40.304 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
CaO 56.079 13.71 0.244 0.244 0.671 0.671 % of An = 64.24
Na2O 61.979 4.17 0.067 0.067 0.185 0.370 % of Ab = 35.43
K2O 94.203 0.05 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.003 % of K = 0.33
Total 99.64 2.913 5.025
No. of oxygen = 8
Ratio = 2.746

By for plagioclase, number of oxygen (8) is divided by total of atomic proportion of oxygen (2.913) =
Ratio (2.746)

The procedure for calculating a chemical formula is described below by means of the above
plagioclase analysis.

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The analytically determined weight percentages of the constituent oxides in column (2) are
divided by the molecular weights of the corresponding oxides (column 1) to arrive at
molecular proportions (column 3). Column (4) is derived from column (3) by multiplying by
the number of oxygen atoms in the oxide concerned. Column (5) is derived from column (4)
multiplying by ratio. Column (6) gives the number of cations associated with the oxygens in
column (5). Thus for SiO2 there is one silicon for two oxygens so the column (5) entry is
divided by 2. For Al2O3 there are two aluminiums for every three oxygens so the column (5)
entry is multiplied by 2/3. The end member composition of plagioclase mineral (column 7)
shows that the Kadavur anorthosites are anorthite rich ranging from An 64.24 and low Ab 35.43

and Or 0.33, which is labradorite.

Pyroxenes

The pyroxene analysis was carried out from the sample norite. In terms of end member
compositions of pyroxenes, the analyses are often recalculated by using molecular
proportions. End member compositions of both, ortho and clino pyroxenes are shown in the
Table 5.10 and 5.11 respectively.

Table 5.10 End member composition of pyroxene (ortho), recalculated from weight percent
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Oxides Molecular Wt % Molecular Atomic No. of No. of End member
Weight of Proportion proportion Anions on atom in recalculation
oxides of oxygen the basis of formula
from each 6 oxygens
molecule. [i.e. Col. (4)
Prop. x 2.278]
SiO2 60.085 51.61 0.859 1.718 3.913 1.957
TiO2 79.899 0.04 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.001 Using molecular
Al2O3 101.961 1.99 0.020 0.059 0.133 0.089 proportions:
FeO 71.846 22.52 0.313 0.313 0.714 0.714 MgO = 0.527
MnO 70.937 0.48 0.007 0.007 0.015 0.015 FeO = 0.313
CaO = 0.009
MgO 40.304 21.25 0.527 0.527 1.201 1.201
Total = 0.849
CaO 56.079 0.50 0.009 0.009 0.020 0.020
Na2O 61.979 0.01 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 % of En = 62.07
K2O 94.203 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 % of Fs = 36.87
Total 98.41 2.634 3.998 % of Wo = 1.06
No. of oxygen = 6
Ratio = 2.278

End member composition of orthopyroxene (Table 5.10, column 7) shows mostly enstatite
with a range of En 62.07 - Fs 36.87 - Wo 1.06.

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Table 5.11 End member composition of pyroxene (clino), recalculated from weight percent

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Oxides Molecular Wt % Molecular Atomic No. of No. of End member
Weight of Proportion proportion Anions on atom in recalculation
oxides of oxygen the basis of formula
from each 6 oxygens
molecule. [i.e. Col. (4)
Prop. x 2.265]
SiO2 60.085 50.32 0.837 1.675 3.794 1.897
TiO2 79.899 0.62 0.008 0.016 0.035 0.018 Using molecular
Al2O3 101.961 3.79 0.037 0.112 0.253 0.168 Proportions:
FeO 71.846 8.41 0.117 0.117 0.265 0.265 MgO = 0.324
MnO 70.937 0.16 0.002 0.002 0.005 0.005 FeO = 0.117
CaO = 0.394
MgO 40.304 13.06 0.324 0.324 0.734 0.734
Total = 0.835
CaO 56.079 22.11 0.394 0.394 0.893 0.893
Na2O 61.979 0.59 0.010 0.010 0.022 0.043 % of En = 38.80
K2O 94.203 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 % of Fs = 14.01
Total 99.06 2.649 4.023 % of Wo = 47.19
No. of oxygen = 6
Ratio = 2.265

End member composition of clinopyroxene (Table. 5.11, column 7) shows, mostly

wollastonite with a range of Wo 47.19 - En 38.80 - Fs 14.01.

Amphiboles

For amphibole (hornblende), analyses were carried out from three anorthosites, one gabbro
and one norite samples. The SiO2 ranges from 44.22 to 48.53 wt%, Al2O3 (7.58 – 11.56
wt%), CaO (11.54 – 12.57 wt%), TiO2 (0.51 – 1.34 wt%) and low Na2O (0.82 – 2.19) & K2O
(0.05 – 0.59wt%). The amphiboles are Ca-rich hornblende with Ca# is (Ca/ [Ca+Na+K])
0.79-0.86 and the Mg# (Mg/[Mg+Fe]) is in the range of 0.63-0.69.

5.7 SYNTHESIS

The major oxide in the anorthosites, anorthositic gabbro, norite and other rock types in the
Kadavur structure is estimated using XRF analysis. The chemical analyses have shown that
the percentage of silicate in the Kadavur anorthosite is in the range of 49.65 to 53.96. Thin
sections prepared from anorthosite rock samples were studied under microscope have shown
that presence of plagioclase in the form of lamellar twinning, clino and ortho pyroxenes,
hornblende and minor mafic accessory minerals. The major minerals present in the rock
samples are estimated through CIPW norm calculation using the results obtained from
chemical analysis. It has shown that the average percentage of plagioclase 78%, pyroxene

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10% and other mafic minerals 5%. The mineral chemistry of rock samples were studied using
EPMA analysis has shown that the end member compositions of plagioclase fall in the range
of An64-Ab35-Or1, ortho pyroxene with En62–Fs36–Wo1 and clino pyroxene with Wo47-En38-
Fs14.

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