Dependence of clinopyroxene composition on cooling rate in basaltic magmas: Implications for thermobarometry

Abstract

The compositional variation of clinopyroxene and the partitioning ofmajor elements between clinopyroxene and melt are estimated as a function of the cooling rate. Clinopyroxenes were crystallized under variable cooling regimes (15, 9.4, 3, 2.1, and 0.5 °C/min from1250 down to 1000 °C) and at isothermal conditions of 1000 °C from a basaltic composition at a pressure of 500 MPa under anhydrous and hydrous (H2O=1.3 wt.%) conditions. The clinopyroxene chemistry shows that, as the cooling rate increases, crystals are progressively depleted in Ca,Mg, Fe2+ and Si and enriched inNa, Fe3+, Al (mainlyAlIV), and Ti. Di andHd versus CaTs and CaFeTs forma continuous binary solid solution characterized by higher amounts of tschermakitic componentswith increasing cooling rate. Two parameters (DH=Di+Hd and TE=CaTs+CaFeTs+En) are calculated to describe the effect of cooling rate on the clinopyroxene composition. The variation of DH/TE with increasing cooling rate evidences the kinetic process induced by rapid cooling in basic rocks under hydrous and anhydrous conditions. Dynamic crystallization conditions affect the partitioning of major elements between clinopyroxene and melt; with increasing cooling rate, the value of crystal–melt partition coefficient departs from that obtained at the isothermal condition. However, in spite of these variations, the values of cpx–meltKdFe–Mg remain almost constant. Therefore, the Fe2–Mg exchange between clinopyroxene and melt is not suitable to prove the (dis)equilibrium conditions in basaltic coolingmagmas, giving rise to possiblemismatches in the application of thermobarometers. The results of our study are consistentwith that observed at themargin of dikes or inthe exterior portions of lavas, where the cooling rate is maximized and disequilibrium compositions of clinopyroxene have been found.