ALBERT

Description: Phase equilibria simulations were performed on naturally quenched basaltic glasses to determine crystallization conditions prior to eruption of magmas at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) east of Ascension Island (7–11°S). The results indicate that mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) magmas beneath different segments of the MAR have crystallized over a wide range of pressures (100–900 MPa). However, each segment seems to have a specific crystallization history. Nearly isobaric crystallization conditions (100–300 MPa) were obtained for the geochemically enriched MORB magmas of the central segments, whereas normal (N)-MORB magmas of the bounding segments are characterized by polybaric crystallization conditions (200–900 MPa). In addition, our results demonstrate close to anhydrous crystallization conditions of N-MORBs, whereas geochemically enriched MORBs were successfully modeled in the presence of 0·4–1 wt% H2O in the parental melts. These estimates are in agreement with direct (Fourier transform IR) measurements of H2O abundances in basaltic glasses and melt inclusions for selected samples. Water contents determined in the parental melts are in the range 0·04–0·09 and 0·30–0·55 wt% H2O for depleted and enriched MORBs, respectively. Our results are in general agreement (within ±200 MPa) with previous approaches used to evaluate pressure estimates in MORB. However, the determination of pre-eruptive conditions of MORBs, including temperature and water content in addition to pressure, requires the improvement of magma crystallization models to simulate liquid lines of descent in the presence of small amounts of water.

Description: Granodiorite from the Gęsiniec Intrusion, Strzelin Crystalline Massif, SW Poland contains complexly zoned plagioclases. Five chemically and structurally distinct zones can be correlated among crystals: ‘cores’ (25–35% An), inner mantles (∼40–45% An), outer mantles (40–25% An), resorption zones (35–50% An) and rims (35–30% An). Good structural and chemical (major and trace elements) correlation of zones between crystals indicates that zonation was produced by changes in conditions of crystallization on a magma chamber scale. Plagioclase, being the liquidus phase, records a time span from the beginning of crystallization to emplacement and rapid cooling of granodiorite as thin dykes. Crystallization began with the formation of inner mantles. The paucity and different sizes of inner mantles suggests slow crystallization in high temperature magma. Normally zoned inner mantles were formed under increasing undercooling. Compositional trends in mantles suggest closed system crystallization. The major resorption zones were caused by injection of less evolved magma as indicated by the strontium increase in plagioclase. The injection triggered a rapid rise of magma and plagioclase crystals facilitating mixing but also inducing fast, kinetically controlled growth of complex multiple, oscillatory zonation within resorption zones. The ascent of magma caused decompression melting of plagioclase and produced melt inclusions within inner mantles—the ‘cores’. The decompression range is estimated at a minimum of 2 kbar. Emplacement of granodiorite as thin dykes allow rapid cooling and preservation of magmatic zonation in plagioclases. Melt inclusions crystallized completely during post-magmatic cooling. The zonation styles of plutonic plagioclase differ markedly from volcanic ones suggesting different magma evolution. Zones in plutonic plagioclase are well correlated indicating crystallization in quiescent magma where crystals accumulation and compositional magma stratification may occur. Crystals probably did not travel between different regimes. Resorption occurred but as single albeit complex episodes. Good correlation of zones in plutonic plagioclases allows a distinction between the main processes controlling zonation and superimposed kinetic effects.