Universal stage investigation of plagioclase feldspars in a mafic granulite nodule

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1 ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICÏ Tomus78. Budapest, 1986 p Universal stage investigation of plagioclase feldspars in a mafic granulite nodule by G. NOSKE-FAZEKAS, Budapest Abstract A gabbroic nodule from the Bondoróhegy alkali basalt was investigated by the universal stage method. The An-content of plagioclases (73.9% on the average) is much higher than in feldspars of other Bondoróhegy gabbroic nodules (~ 50%). In accordance with Gorai's statement, the so-called C-twins are significantly more frequent in this rock which contains basic plagioclase. With 4 photoplates. The major goal in studying the gabbro xenoliths of lower crust to upper mantle origin from the Balaton Highland alkali basalts on the universal stage, was to determine the frequency of twin laws of the feldspar crystals in the samples. So as to be able to carry out a number of measurements per sample sufficient for statistical evaluation, I could use only a part of the gabbro xenoliths (NOSKE-FAZEKAS 1984). The material of sample 3007 from Bondoróhegy was so markedly inhomogeneous that, after studying the first-made, informative thin sections, I came to conclude that the number of plagioclase feldspars was not sufficient for twin-statistical studies. However, the electron probe measurements of this sample, along with a number of Balaton Highland xenoliths deposited in the Department of Petrology of the Vienna University, led to the result that the An-content of its feldspars was much higher compared with the gabbroxenoliths that had earlier been measured on the universal stage (NOSKE-FAZEKAS 1984). Since the optically determined An percentage of this latter sample showed a strikingly close agreement with the results of microprobe measurements, I had good reason to suppose that the feldspars in the case of sample Bo-3007 were much more basic than the other xenoliths of intrusive rocks of similar character. At the same time, the problem arose that a relationship between rock chemistry and twin-law history existed here too. After a great number of thin sections had been prepared, it was possible to examine the feldspar crystals in a quantity that enabled me to compare the results of the measurements of one gabbro xenolith with earlier results from the study area. Microscopic studies The high degree of inhomogénéity of sample Bo-3007 is readily reflected by the results of measurements on the integration stage (Table 1): Studied with closer scrutiny, the plagioclase feldspars vary between 300 and 1000 /a in grain size, the average being fj,. The crystals are seldom hypidiomorphic. As a rule, a number of grains form contiguous fields (Plate I: 1) or the crystals appear among Table 1. Mineral composition of the gabbro Bo Plagioclase 35.9 Pyroxene 35.7 Ore Other

2 c l i n o p y r o x e n e s o f earlier segregation, t h u s l a c k i n g i d i o m o r p h y ( P l a t e I : 2 ). T h e i r e x t i n c t i o n is g e n e r a l l y u n i f o r m, b e i n g o c c a s i o n a l l y u n d u l a t e, h o w e v e r, several crystals a r e o b s e r v e d t h e n u c l e i a n d r i m s o f w h i c h d o n o t e x t i n c t at t h e same t i m e ( P l a t e I I : 1). S i m i l a r l y t o t h e case o f t h e B o n d o r ó h e g y g a b b r o s s t u d i e d e a r l i e r, t h e m e e t i n g a t o f t h e s t r a i g h t - l i n e b o u n d a r i e s o f plagioclases c a n b e o b s e r v e d here as w e l l ( P l a t e I I : 2 ). T h e feldspars a r e usually p o o r i n inclusions, b u t sometimes well-crystallized clinopyroxene, z i r c o n a n d apatite a r e observed ( P l a t e I I I : 1). A c i c u l a r, n e e d l e - l i k e b l a c k i n c l u s i o n s d u e t o a s e c o n d a r y i n fluence t h a t h a d affected t h e r o c k a r e m o r e f r e q u e n t, b e i n g l o c a t e d m a i n l y o n t h e edges o f t h e crystals o f a l o n g scarce c r a c k s, p a r a l l e l t o o n e a n o t h e r ( P l a t e I I I : 2 ). I n a d d i t i o n, o p a q u e g l o b u l e s o f v a r y i n g size a r e c o n s p i c u o u s ( P l a t e I V : 1 ). Results of measurements on the universal stage S i m i l a r l y t o the case o f t h e o t h e r B o n d o r ó h e g y g a b b r o s, t h e m a j o r p a r t o f t h e p l a g i o c l a s e g r a i n s i n t h i s s a m p l e a r e n o t t w i n n e d ( P l a t e I, I I, I I I ). A t t a i n i n g a t o t a l o f o n l y 1 5 % share, t h e t w i n crystals m a i n l y consist o f a single p a i r o f t w i n s ( P l a t e I V : 2 ), p o l y s y n t h e t i c t w i n s being quite sporadical. T h e average A n c o n t e n t m e a s u r e d f o r t h e 114 t w i n c o n s t i t u e n t s w a s % w h i c h is i n g o o d a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e m i c r o p r o b e results (77.4 A n % ). F o r t h e a n o r t h i t e c o n t e n t o f gabbro xenoliths studied earlier f r o m t h e B o n d o r ó h e g y locality, a r o u n d figure of 50% w a s m e a s u r e d. O n l y s e c o n d a r y plagioclase g r a i n s o f o n e s a m p l e ( B o ) s h o w e d A n values h i g h e r t h a n 7 0 % ( N O S K E - F A Z E K A S 1984). I n t h e c o u r s e o f m y e a r l i e r studies I w a s s u r p r i s e d t o see t h a t t h e p o i n t s o f m e a s u r e m e n t o f t h e plagioclases o f t h e g a b b r o s c o i n c i d e d w i t h t h e h i g h - t e m p e r a t u r e m i g r a t i o n c u r v e, w h i c h I e x p l a i n e d b y t h e effect o f a s e c o n d a r y h e a t i n g t h a t h a d affected t h e g a b b r o s. Because o f the h i g h a n o r t h i t e c o n t e n t o f t h e plagioclases i n t h e s a m p l e b e i n g discussed, i t is i m p o s sible n o w t o d i s t i n g u i s h o p t i c a l l y b e t w e e n h i g h - a n d l o w - t e m p e r a t u r e m i g r a t i o n s, because i n t h i s r a n g e t h e curves a l m o s t c o i n c i d e. H a v i n g examined the statistical regularities o f t w i n n i n g i n sample Bo-3007, l e t m e p o i n t o u t t h a t, s i m i l a r l y t o t h e case o f t h e g a b b r o x e n o l i t h s s t u d i e d earlier o n t h e u n i v e r s a l stage, G o r a i ' s A - t w i n s ( a l b i t e + a c l i n = % ) a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c h e r e as w e l l. T h e r e m a i n i n g twins consituting about 2 5 % are crystallized according to the Carlsbad ( 7. 7 % ), albitecarlsbad ( 9. 3 % ), albite-ala ( 1. 5 % ), ala ( 1. 5 % ), Baveno ( 1. 5 % ) a n d M a n e b a c h (1.5%) t w i n laws. A s e v i d e n c e d b y o u r e a r l i e r a n d present studies, t h e r e i s a close r e l a t i o n s h i p between r o c k c h e m i s t r y a n d t w i n n i n g h i s t o r y. T h e m o r e a c i d i c plagioclases i n t h e g a b b r o x e n o l i t h s f r o m B o n d o r ó h e g y are crystallized, almost a l l according t o the A - t w i n law ( N O S K E - F A Z E K A S 1984); a t t h e same t i m e, t h e crystals o f c o n s i d e r a b l y h i g h e r a n o r t h i t e c o n t e n t w e r e f o r m e d, i n a q u i t e significant q u a n t i t y ( 2 5 % ), b y o b e y i n g t h e C - t w i n l a w ( B o ). C o m p a r i n g t h e results w i t h t h e t w i n - s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a o f v o l c a n i c r o c k s m e a s u r e d p r e v i o u s l y b y us ( N O S K E - F A Z E K A S 1972, ; N O S K E - F A Z E K A S & E M B E Y - I S Z T I N 1975), w e can see t h a t t h e b a s i c i t y o f t h e r o c k h a s h a d a m a r k e d effect o n t h e f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l t w i n l a w s i n t h e case o f b o t h e x t r u s i v e a n d i n t r u s i v e r o c k s s a m p l e d a t great d e p t h s. T h u s, f o r instance, even a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m e a s u r e m e n t s o n t h e u n i v e r s a l stage o f a n d é s i t e s o f different c h e m i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n f r o m t h e B ö r z s ö n y M o u n t a i n s, a w i d e v a r i e t y o f igneous r o c k s r a n g i n g f r o m a c i d i c b i o t i t e a n d é s i t e, t h r o u g h h o r n b l e n d e a n d é s i t e, u p t o basic p y r o x e n e a n d é s i t e, s h o w s a n increase i n t h e q u a n t i t y o f C - t w i n s at t h e expense of A-twins.

3 References BURRI, C, PARKER, L. & WENK, E. (1967) : Die optische Orientierung der Plagioklase. Basel : 334. pp EMBEY-ISZTIN, A. (1976): Felsőköpeny eredetű lherzolitzárványok a magyarországi alkáli olivinbazaltos bazanitos vulkanizmus kőzeteiben. (Lherzolite nodules of upper mantle origin in the alkali olivine basaltic, basanitic rocks of Hungary.) Földt. Közi., 106: G OR AI, M. (1951): Penological studies on plagioclase twins. Amer. Minerai, 36: NOSKE-FAZEKAS, G. & EMBEY-ISZTTN, A. (1975): Petrologische Untersuchungen der Andesitintrusion von Nadap (Ungarn). Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung., 67: NOSKE-FAZEKAS, G. (1980) : Statistical investigation of plagioclase twin laws in lavas erupted between the Danube and the Central Börzsöny Mountains (Hungary). Annals hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung., 72: NOSKE-FAZEKAS, G. (1984): Universal stage measurements of plagioclase feldspars originating from gabbroic inclusions of the Bondoró-hegy alkali basalts (Hungary). Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung., 76: SMITH, J. V. (1974): Feldspar Minerals. New York: 690 pp. Author's address : DR. GABRIELLA NOSKE-FAZEKAS Mineralogical Department Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest, of. 330 H Term. Tud. Múz. Évk

4 Plate I. F i g. 1. X e n o l i t h e plagioclases. + N, X 40. F i g. 2. Clinopyroxene surrounded by plagioclase. + N, X 40.

5 Plate I I. F i g. 1. Uneven extinction i n plagioclase. + N, X 80. F i g. 2. Plagioclases w i t h straight line b o u n d aries and 120 triple p o i n t j u n c t i o n s. + N, X 40.

6 Plate I I I. F i g. I. Inclusions o f large size i n plagioclase. I I N, X 80. F i g. 2. Needle-like inclusions i n plagioclase. + N, X 80.

Statistical Investigations of Plagioclase Twin Laws in Lavas Erupted between the Danube and the Central Börzsöny Mountains (Hungary)

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Tomus 72. Budapest 1980. Statistical Investigations of Plagioclase Twin Laws in Lavas Erupted between the Danube and the Central Börzsöny Mountains