Petrogenetic aspects and role of liquid immiscibility from parts of eastern Deccan volcanic province, India

Abstract

One atmosphere experimental studies have been conducted on two amygdule-free representative samples from Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, Central India, belonging to Eastern Deccan Volcanic province in order to understand mineral petrogenesis, crystallization history of the parent magma and role of liquid immiscibility. One atm experiments were carried out on these two samples at specified temperatures on designated time in order to understand crystallization history. The run products were identified both by optical means and electron microprobe analysis. The identified run products include pyroxenes, feldspar, opaques phase (oxide and sulphide), silica phases, and glass (both brown and colourless variety). The run product pyroxenes belong to quadrilateral pyroxene, and species-wise correspond to augite, clinoenstatite, and pigeonite. Feldspars in majority are found to be anorthoclase (which are interpreted to have been formed during sudden crystallization in contact with water at shallow depth during experiments) and less commonly calcic plagioclase (in the range of labradorite to anorthite). Opaque phases have both oxide and sulphide, namely hematite, magnetite, martite, and pyrite, respectively. The zoned nature between the oxide and sulphide phases is suggestive of oscillation of oxygen fugacity during crystallization. The run product silica phase corresponds to tridymite. The silica-rich glass (colourless) is overwhelmingly dominant, whereas silica-poor glass (brown glass) is a manifestation of liquid immiscibility. The silica-rich glasses give rise to direct crystallization of tridymite, whereas silica-poor glasses act as the main driving liquid (or parent liquid) to further the crystallization towards lower temperature. The crystallization behaviour of the parent magma, and liquid immiscibility can be well documented with reference to forsterite-silica phase diagram; in this phase diagram, the parent liquid corresponds to normative Qtz: 2.542, Fo: 0.098, and En: 0.34. The ambient parent liquid plots very close to Ab apex with reference to the Di-Ab-An phase diagram. The clear and distinct zonation pattern present in the opaque phases signifies that crystallization straddles between both oxidizing and reducing condition yielding crystallization of both oxide and sulphide phases. Our study indicates a unique role of liquid immiscibility of the parent magma supplemented by oscillation of oxidizing and reducing conditions giving rise to ensemble of variety of glass compositions, silicate, and opaque phases.