Basis for Classification

Minerals present in the rock

Rock Classification
Chapter 2, pp. 17-26
Best for coarse-grained rocks
Useful for field work
Chemical Composition
Works for fine-grained rock
Expensive and takes time

Mineralogical Classification Monomineralic Rocks

Color Index = % of dark minerals Plagioclase Anorthosite

Felsic < 35% mafic minerals Olivine Dunite
Mafic = 35% 90% mafic minerals Augite Clinopyroxenite
Ultramafic > 90% mafic mineral
Hypersthene Orthopyroxenite

QAPF
Chemical Classification
Diagram
CIPW norm
Useful for most Calculated minerals from
chemical analysis
Common rocks
Saturation concept
Si saturation
Recalculate the Acid to basic
minerals to Al saturation
100% QAP or Harker-Peacock index
FAP Alkalies vs calcium

1
 Silica Saturation Aluminum Saturation
Acid SiO2 > 66 %
Based on the feldspar ratio 1:1:3 (NaAlSi3O8)
Intermediate SiO2 52 to 66 %
Basic SiO2 45 to 52 % Peraluminous Al2O3 > (CaO + Na2O + K2O)
Ultrabasic SiO2 < 52 %
Peralkaline (Na2O + K2O) > Al2O3

Classification of Igneous Rocks Classification of Igneous Rocks

Figure 2-1a. Method #1 for plotting a point with the components: 70% X, 20% Y, and 10% Z on Figure 2-1b. Method #2 for plotting a point with the components: 70% X, 20% Y, and 10% Z on triangular
triangular diagrams. An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, John Winter, Prentice Hall. diagrams. An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, John Winter, Prentice Hall.

Feldspar Classification
Pyroxene Classification

2
 Classification of Igneous Rocks
Plagioclase
Basalt Anorthosite Figure 2-2. A classification of the phaneritic
90
Classification igneous rocks. b. Gabbroic rocks. c. Ultramafic
rocks. After IUGS.

Phases:

ro

Tro
bb
Olivine

cto
Ga

lite
Olivine Dunite
Augite (Cpx) gabbro 90

Hypersthene (Hy)
Olivine (Oliv) Peridotites

W
te

eh
Plagioclase (Plag)

rgi

rlit
Plagioclase-bearing ultramafic rocks Lherzolite

bu

e
rz
Nepheline (Ne) Pyroxene Olivine

Ha
(b) 40

Orthopyroxenite Olivine Websterite Pyroxenites

10

(c) 10
Websterite
Clinopyroxenite
Orthopyroxene Clinopyroxene

(a) Q Q
The rock must contain a total of
at least 10% of the minerals below. Quartzolite
Renormalize to 100%
90

Classification of
90

Quartz-rich
Granitoid

Igneous Rocks
Classification of
60 60 60 60
nite

To
r Gra

Grano-
n

Igneous Rocks Granite

ali
spa

diorite Rhyolite Dacite

te
F eld
ali
Alk

Alkali Fs. 20 20 Qtz. Diorite/ 20 20

Quartz Syenite Qtz. Gabbro
Quartz Quartz Quartz
Alkali Fs. Syenite Monzonite Monzodiorite
5 5 Diorite/Gabbro/ Trachyte Latite Andesite/Basalt
Syenite Syenite
10 35 Monzonite 65 Monzodiorite 90 Anorthosite 35 65
A (Foid)-bearing (Foid)-bearing (Foid)-bearing P A (foid)-bearing (foid)-bearing (foid)-bearing P
Syenite Monzonite Monzodiorite Trachyte Latite Andesite/Basalt
10 10 (Foid)-bearing 10 10
Diorite/Gabbro
(Foid)-bearing
(F o

Alkali Fs. Syenite

id)

ro

(Foid) (Foid)
abb

Phonolite
Sy

Tephrite
Monzosyenite Monzodiorite
en

Figure 2-3. A classification and nomenclature

ite

id)
(Fo

of volcanic rocks. After IUGS.

60 60 60 60
Figure 2-2. A classification of the phaneritic igneous
rocks. a. Phaneritic rocks with more than 10% (quartz + (Foid)olites (Foid)ites
feldspar + feldspathoids). After IUGS.

F F

Basalt
Discriminator Basalt Trends

3
 Classification of Igneous Rocks

Figure 2-4. A chemical classification of volcanics based on total alkalis vs. silica. After Le Bas et al.
(1986) J. Petrol., 27, 745-750. Oxford University Press.

Si Activity

SiO2
Based on s set of
reactions
Limits three main
magma series