Vector analysis of chemical variation in the lavas of Parícutin volcano, Mexico

Journal of the International Association for Mathematical Geology
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Abstract

Compositional variations in the lavas of Parícutin volcano, Mexico, have been examined by an extended method of Q-mode factor analysis. Each sample composition is treated as a vector projected from an original eight-dimensional space into a vector system of three dimensions. The compositions represented by the vectors after projection are closely similar to the original compositions except for Na2Oand Fe2O3.The vectors in the three-dimensional system cluster about three different planes that represent three stages of compositional change in the Parícutin lavas. Because chemical data on the compositions of the minerals in the lavas are presently lacking, interpretations of the mineral phases that may have been involved in fractional crystallization are based on CIPW norm calculations. Changes during the first stage are attributed largely to the fractional crystallization of plagioclase and olivine. Changes during the second stage can be explained by the separation of plagioclase and pyroxene. Changes during the final stage may have resulted mostly from the assimilation of a granitic material, as previously proposed by R. E. Wilcox.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Vector analysis of chemical variation in the lavas of Parícutin volcano, Mexico
Series title Journal of the International Association for Mathematical Geology
DOI 10.1007/BF01029294
Volume 11
Issue 4
Year Published 1979
Language English
Publisher Springer
Description 27 p.
First page 345
Last page 371
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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