Magmas in Collision
By: Matthew Hoffarth
Abstract: Charles Darwin first suggested the process of fractional crystallization in 1844. Since then, there have been others finding that fractional crystallization may only be the starting point in determining magma composition. According to McBirney (1980), the possibility of the mixing of contrasting magmas begins with Fenner in 1926. I decided to take in account some of the more recent examples of the mixing of magmas.
Figure 1 One example of mixing magmas taken from an experiment by Dr. J. K. Russell at the website: http://www.science.ubc.ca/~eoswr/concepts/igneous/magma/magexamp.html.
Figure 2 A rock specimen frozen at the moment of mixing taken from the same website as Figure 1.
References Cited
Dungan, M. A., 1978, Residual glasses and melt inclusions in basalts from DSDP legs 45 and 46: Evidence for magma mixing: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 67, p. 417-431.
Eichelberger, J. C., Chertkoff, D. G., Dreher, S. T., and Nye, C. J., 2000, Magmas in collision: Rethinking chemical zonation in silicic magmas: Journal of Geology, v. 28, No. 7, P. 603-606.
Hervig, R. L., and Dunbar, N. W., 1992, Cause of chemical zoning in the Bishop, CA and Bandelier, NM magma chambers: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 111, p. 97-108.
McBirney, A. R., 1980, Mixing and unmixing magmas: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 7, p. 357-371.
Russell, J. K., http://www.science.ubc.ca/~eoswr/concepts/igneous/magma/magexamp.html.
Weinberg, R. F., and Leitch, A. M., 1998, Mingling in mafic magma chambers replenished by light felsic inputs: Fluid dynamical experiments: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 157, p. 41-56.