Quantitative textural analysis of packings of elongate crystals

Rudge, J. F. and Holness, M. B. and Smith, G. C. (2008) Quantitative textural analysis of packings of elongate crystals. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 156 (4). pp. 413-429. ISSN 0010-7999 (Print) 1432-0967 (Online) DOI 10.1007/s00410-008-0293-1

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Abstract

The spatial distribution of grains in a solidifying igneous rock controls the physical properties of the crystal mush, and in turn is controlled by the rate of crystal growth and accumulation. A predominant non-spherical habit for igneous minerals brings into question the use of spherical particles in reference packings used for quantification of spatial distribution. Furthermore, variations of crystal clustering/ordering with length scale require spatial statistics which take into account the distribution of particles beyond nearest neighbours. Using random close packings of spherocylinders, we demonstrate the importance of aspect ratio for the aggregation index (usually known as R) and show that packings of spherical particles have more structure than packings of rods. The spatial distribution functions demonstrate that the plagioclase grains in the colonnade from the Holyoke basalt are clustered on a length scale of 0.5 mm. Understanding the controls on grain spatial distribution in igneous rocks will depend on the application of these techniques to well-understood environments.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	08AREP IA55
Subjects:	05 - Petrology - Igneous, Metamorphic and Volcanic Studies 02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Divisions:	05 - Petrology - Igneous, Metamorphic and Volcanic Studies
Journal or Publication Title:	Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology
Volume:	156
Page Range:	pp. 413-429
Identification Number:	10.1007/s00410-008-0293-1
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2009 13:03
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 10:08
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/641

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