BOWEN'S REACTION SERIES

AND THE IGNEOUS ROCK FORMING MINERALS

Ferro-Magnesium Non-Ferro-Magnesium
(Mafic) Minerals (Feldspar) Minerals
light green, glassy,
often as small grains Olivine isolated Si0 4 Ca dark, almost black to light

Plagioclase
gray; 90o cleavage; striations
and/or irridesence

dark green/black; dull

blocky; 90o cleavage Pyroxene single chain
Ca/Na white; 90o cleavage;
striations sometimes;
appears translucent

black, shiny, elongate,

crystals; 60-120o cleavage Amphibole double chain
Na white; 90o cleavage;

Plagioclase
striations sometimes;
black, very shiny, in
thin very smooth sheets Biotite Sheet appears translucent

pink, white, greenish; two

cleavages 90o; opaque Orthoclase

Muscovite white to brassy thin sheets;

clear; very smooth

glassy, clear, often appears

gray in rocks; no cleavage Quartz