Pyroxene and magnetite phenocrysts from the Taupo quaternary rhyolitic pumice deposits, New Zealand

Abstract

SummaryChemical data are presented for four hypersthenes and one coexisting hypersthene-augite pair, and chemical, X-ray, and thermomagnetic data presented for five titaniferous magnetites, all from various horizons of the Taupo pumice sequence. These phenocrysts are regarded as primary crystallization products, and not of xenocrystic origin. The hypersthenes range from Mg46·4Fe51·4Ca2·2 to Mg65·7Fe31·2Ca3·1; the augite composition is Mg48·5Fe12·3Ca39·2. The occurrence of such magnesian pyroxenes may be explained by the early separation of titaniferous magnetite, although it is also possible that the initial iron ratios of the liquids were already sufficiently low to precipitate these pyroxenes.The magnetites exhibit varying stages of oxidation. Data on the least oxidized specimens indicate they were initially magnetite-ulvöspinel solid solutions, with 40 to 50% (mol.) solid solution ulvöspinel. Subsequent oxidation has modified their compositions; there is some evidence that this could have occurred during normal weathering processes.