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A chemical–mineralogical classification of common plutonic rocks and associations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

F. Debon  and
P. Le Fort
F. Debon
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, BP. 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
P. Le Fort
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, BP. 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
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Abstract

A classification is proposed, based mainly on major element analytical data plotted in a coherent set of three simple chemical-mineralogical diagrams. The procedure follows two complementary steps at two different levels. The first is concerned with the individual sample: the sample is given a name (e.g. granite, adamellite, granodiorite) and its chemical and mineralogical characteristics are determined. The second one is more important: it aims at defining the type of magmatic association (or series) to which the studied sample or group of samples belongs. Three main types of association are distinguished: cafemic (from source-material mainly or completely mantle-derived), aluminous (mainly or completely derived by anatexis of continental crust), and alumino-cafemic (intermediate between the other two types). Subtypes are then distinguished among the cafemic and alumino-cafemic associations: calc-alkaline (or granodioritic), subalkaline (or monzonitic), alkaline (and peralkaline), tholeiitic (or gabbroic-trondhjemitic), etc. In the same way, numerous subtypes and variants are also distinguished among the aluminous associations using a set of complementary criteria such as quartz content, colour index, alkali ratio, quartz–alkalies relationships and alumina index.

Although involving a new approach using partly new criteria, this classification is consistent with most of the divisions used in previous typologies. The method may also be used in the classification of the volcanic equivalents of common plutonic rocks.

Keywords

alumino-cafemicaluminouscafemicchemical-mineralogical diagramgranitoidmagmatic associationmajor element analysisnomenclaturetypology.
Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 73 , Issue 3 , 1983 , pp. 135 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1983

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