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Microstructural evidence for crystallization regimes in mafic intrusions: a case study from the Little Minch Sill Complex, Scotland.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Holness, Marian 
Neufeld, Jerome 
Farr, Robert 

Abstract

The magma forming the 20 m thick crinanitic/picrodoleritic Dun Raisburgh sill, part of the Little Minch Sill Complex of NW Scotland, comprised a mafic carrier liquid with a crystal cargo of plagioclase and olivine (1 vol%). The olivine component of the cargo settled on the floor of the intrusion while the more buoyant plagioclase component remained suspended during solidification, resulting in a relatively high plagioclase content in the centre of the sill. The settled olivine grains form a lower fining-upwards sequence overlain by a poorly sorted accumulation formed of grains that grew within the convecting magma. The accumulation of olivine on the sill floor occurred over 5-10 weeks, synchronous with the upwards-propagation of a solidification front comprising a porous (~ 70 vol% interstitial liquid) plagioclase-rich crystal mush.

Description

Keywords

Convection, Crystallization, Grain size, Microstructure, Olivine, Sill

Journal Title

Contrib Mineral Petrol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0010-7999
1432-0967

Volume Title

173

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/N009894/1)