How late are K-feldspar megacrysts in granites?

Abstract

Various petrologists have suggested that K-feldspar megacrysts grow in granites that are extensively crystallized, even at subsolidus conditions. However, experimental evidence indicates that, though K-feldspar nucleates relatively late in the crystallization history, abundant liquid is available for development of large crystals. A great deal of evidence, involving many different factors, favours a magmatic/phenocrystic origin for K-feldspar megacrysts in granites, namely simple twinning, oscillatory zoning, euhedral plagioclase inclusions, and concentric, crystallographically controlled arrangements of inclusions. In addition, abundant evidence has been presented of (1) mechanical accumulation of K-feldspar megacrysts in granites, (2) alignment of megacrysts and megacryst concentrations in magmatic flow foliations, (3) involvement of megacrysts in zones of magma mixing in granite plutons, and (4) occurrence of megacrysts in some volcanic rocks, implying that the megacrysts were suspended in enough liquid to be moved without fracturing or plastic deformation. Detailed trace element and isotopic data also indicate that megacrysts can move between coexisting felsic and more mafic magmas. Irregular overgrowths on megacrysts are consistent with continued magmatic growth after euhedral megacrystic growth ceased, the overgrowths being impeded by simultaneously crystallizing quartz and feldspar grains.