Petrology of granophyre in diabase near Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

Geological Society of America Bulletin
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Abstract

Small bodies of granophyre occur in the upper part of diabase bodies of Triassic age in southeastern Pennsylvania. One near Harrisburg was penetrated by a diamond-drill. Drill core specimens show a gradation from diabase to granophyre.

New data include 10 chemical analyses, spectrographic determinations of trace elements, and the results of petrographic study of specimens from the drill core. The sequence, from diabase to granophyre, includes a chilled zone that represents an original magma of tholeiitic composition, normal diabase, pegmatitic facies of diabase, and granophyric diabase that is intermediate in composition and petrographic characteristics between diabase and granophyre, and finally granophyre. Alkalies and silica increase progressively from diabase to granophyre; iron increases to a maximum in transitional granophyric diabase, then decreases in the granophyre.

It is concluded that crystal fractionation in a large sheetlike body of tholeiitic magma yielded a small amount of granophyre. Prior to complete solidification, a residual liquid rich in iron, alkalies, and silica accumulated locally in the upper part of the diabase sheet. In places volatile-rich iron-bearing solutions escaped into the overlying sedimentary rocks and deposited magnetite; the remaining liquid crystallized t o fine-grained granophyre.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Petrology of granophyre in diabase near Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
Series title Geological Society of America Bulletin
DOI 10.1130/0016-7606(1953)64[675:POGIDN]2.0.CO;2
Volume 64
Issue 6
Year Published 1953
Language English
Publisher Geological Society of America
Description 30 p.
First page 675
Last page 704
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
City Dillsburg
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