Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (3)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by O’HARA, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by PRICHARD, H. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Journal of Petrology Volume 42 Number 10 Pages 1869-1885 2001
© Oxford University Press 2001

Minor Phases as Carriers of Trace Elements in Non-Modal Crystal–Liquid Separation Processes I: Basic Relationships

M. J. O’HARA,*, N. FRY and H. M. PRICHARD

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES, CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, PO BOX 914, CARDIFF CF10 3YE, UK

Some trace elements have the property that, although they are incompatible with most mineral phases in magmatic systems, they are strongly concentrated in certain minor mineral phases. These minor phases, termed here ‘carrier-phases’, and their associated trace elements include platinum group elements in base metal sulphide and chromite; chromium and vanadium in magnetite; uranium group metals in zircon and monazite; and rare earth elements in monazite and xenotime. Carrier-phases may form only a small fraction of a source rock undergoing partial melting and tend to be eliminated from the residue at an intermediate point in the partial melting history; conversely, those same minor carrier-phases tend to precipitate late during fractional crystallization of a liquid produced in the above manner, but may constitute a high proportion of the cumulate then forming. This paper explores the phase equilibria aspects of such processes in a simple system, outlining a nomenclature which is then used in a mathematical treatment applicable to non-modal melting and crystallization processes involving several crystal species. The treatment at this stage assumes constant individual crystal–liquid distribution coefficients. Equations are developed, which are applied in a companion paper to illustrate the behaviour that can be anticipated when carrier-phases play a significant role in trace element location during melting and crystallization.

KEY WORDS: uranium; thorium; platinum group elements; carrier-phase; trace element


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J PetrologyHome page
Y. NIU
Bulk-rock Major and Trace Element Compositions of Abyssal Peridotites: Implications for Mantle Melting, Melt Extraction and Post-melting Processes Beneath Mid-Ocean Ridges
J. Petrology, December 1, 2004; 45(12): 2423 - 2458.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J PetrologyHome page
M. J. O'HARA, N. FRY, and H. M. PRICHARD
Minor Phases as Carriers of Trace Elements in Non-Modal Crystal-Liquid Separation Processes II: Illustrations and Bearing on Behaviour of REE, U, Th and the PGE in Igneous Processes
J. Petrology, October 1, 2001; 42(10): 1887 - 1910.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.