Plagioclase Phase Diagram

Dexter Perkins

University of North Dakota

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This page first made public: Aug 7, 2006

Summary

This short exercise involves the binary plagioclase "two-phase loop" phase diagram.

Phase Equilibria/Thermodynamics, Mineralogy | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

This exercise is designed for a mid/upper-level undergraduate geology course on the principles of mineralogy.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should have knowledge of basic chemistry and of minerals equivalent to what they would learn in an introductory geology class.

How the activity is situated in the course

This activity is the 12th of 36 mineralogy exercises and is used towards the beginning of the course.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Students learn how to interpret the plagioclase phase diagram.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Learn how to translate a phase diagram into something meaningful.

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

In this short exercise, students examine the plagioclase phase diagram and answer questions about melt composition, temperature and cooling, crystalization, and melt:crystal ratios.