ULTRAMAFIC AND

ULTRABASIC ROCKS
Ultramafic and ultrabasic rocks, though not
abundant at the Earth’ s surface, provide
valuable insights into basalt magma genesis
and mantle source domains.
An igneous petrologist may encounter such
rocks in three distinct settings:

•as early cumulates in layered intrusions

exhumed by erosion; these are ultramafi c
cumulates that crystallized and accumulated
from basic melts before they reached
saturation with plagioclase;
• as samples of the Earth’s peridotite mantle
that have been transported to the surface by
volcanic or tectonic processes;
The first two categories, having formed at
depth, are generally coarse -g rained enough
for all minerals to be identifi ed (unless
severely altered). This allows them to be
described as ultramafi c ( colour index ≥ 90).
They may or may not qualify as ultrabasic (SiO
2 <45%)
• as lavas of ultrabasic composition erupted on
the surface.
The third category – consisting primarily
of rocks called komatiites – was for many
years a petrological enigma.
 Orthopyroxene
Hand sample: Two cleavage planes
perpendicular to each other. Cleavage is good.
Will have a vitreous to pearly luster on the
cleavage surface. Color can be from yellowish
or greenish white to olive-green. High Fe
contents can also cause the color to be black
and in this case it is hard to tell from augite.
 Clinopyroxene
Hand sample: Imperfect cleavage. Two planes
intersecting at 87° and 93°. Augite has a
vitreous luster and is black. Its crystal form
and imperfect cleavage are diagnostic.
 THE NOMENCLATURE OF
ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS
Dunite: a rock consisting almost entirely of
olivine (named after Dun Mountain in New
Zealand).
Lherzolite: a coarse- grained rock
consisting essentially of olivine ( > 40%) +
orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene (after Ét
ang de Lherz 1 in the French Pyrenees).
1
Harzburgite: a coarse- grained rock
consisting essentially of olivine ( > 40%) +
orthopyroxene (after the town of Harzburg in
the Harz Mountains of Germany).
Wehrlite: a coarse -g rained rock consisting
essentially of olivine ( > 40%) +
clinopyroxene (named after a 19 th century
petrologist by the name of Wehrle, who
produced the first analysis of such rock).
Websterite: a pyroxenite consisting of
orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene (after
Webster County, N Carolina). The presence of
olivine (10%< olivine < 40%) as well leads to
the name olivine websterite
 Alteration
Ultramafic and ultrabasic rocks, whatever
their origin, are very prone to hydrothermal
alteration. Magnesian olivine and
orthopyroxene react readily with hot aqueous
fluids to form serpentine minerals. An
ultrabasic rock in which most of the olivine
has been altered to serpentine is called a
serpentinite.
Serpentinization of orthopyroxene leads to
platy pseudomorphs that are distinctive in
hand - specimen: the crystals take on a
bronze- or honey -coloured metallic sheen, in
which form the mineral is sometimes known
by the special name bastite.
Other Important Ultramafic/ Ultrabasic Rocks

Komatiites and Kimberlites

 Komatiite
The pristine volcanic
mineralogy of komatiites is
composed of
forsteritic olivine (Fo90 and
upwards), calcic and often
chromian pyroxene, anorth
ite (An85 and upwards)
and chromite.

Komatiites are ultrabasic

volcanic rocks found almost
exclusively in Archean ( >
2.5 Ga) greenstone belts.
 Komatiite
To erupt, ultramafic magma (one with less than
45% silica) requires near-surface magma
temperatures of more than 1600°C; the highest
recorded surface temperature for recent lava
flows is 1350°C. During its early history, however,
Earth possessed more radiogenic heat, and the
mantle was as much as 300°C hotter than it is
now.
 Komatiite
Given these conditions, ultramafic magma
could reach the surface, but as Earth’s
radiogenic heat production decreased, the
mantle cooled and ultramafic flows no longer
occurred.
The most distinctive feature of the type-
komatiites in the field was the presence of
blade - like olivine crystals several centimetres
in length, either randomly orientated or
forming sheaves of sub -parallel or divergent
crystals , known as Spinifex Texture.
 Hypotheses for the origin of
komatiites include:
1. Melting in the hydrated mantle wedge above
the subduction zones (Allegre, 1982; Grove et
al., 1997 ; Parman et al., 2001 ).
2. A deep mantle plume hotspot that led to large
degrees of partial melting producing oceanic
plateaus (Storey et al., 1991 ).
3. Partial melting (10 – 30%) of a garnet
peridotite at pressures of 8 – 10 GPa (Walter,
1998 ).
 Kimberlite
It is named after the town
of Kimberley in South Africa, where the
discovery of an 83.5-carat (16.70 g) diamond
called the Star of South Africa in 1869
spawned a diamond rush and the digging of
the open-pit mine the Big Hole.
 Kimberlites
brecciated, magnesium- rich, ultrabasic rocks
that rapidly rise to Earth’ s surface via
cylindrical diatremes from deep within the
mantle.
Mineralogy: Mantle-derived minerals sampled
and brought to surface by kimberlite (and other
similar rock types) are typically referred to as
kimberlitic indicator minerals. The most
important of these are garnet, ilmenite, chromite,
Cr-diopside and olivine. Orthopyroxene
(enstatite) is a key component of the lithospheric
mantle but is highly reactive with the kimberlite
magma and is, therefore, commonly absent or
only preserved in trace amounts
BASALTIC ROCKS
 BASALTIC ROCKS
Basalts are erupted in a wide variety of
tectonic environments on Earth.
Like: mid- ocean ridges, island arcs, back -
arc basins, intra plate oceanic islands, large
igneous provinces and intra -continental rifts.
Making basalt as the most abundant volcanic
rock.
 THE NOMENCLATURE AND
MINERALOGY OF BASALTIC ROCKS
The simplest definition of a basalt is:

Basalt: a fine - grained, mafic igneous

rock consisting essentially of augite + calcic
plagioclase.
 Subdividing basalts
According to Mineralogy:
the term tholeiite is used today to describe a
basalt containing a low- Ca pyroxene (enstatite
or pigeonite), and the term alkali basalt is
used in place of ‘ nepheline olivine basalt’. ‘
Tholeiite ’ , representing the commonest type
of basalt.
Because the fine - grained or glassy matrix of
basalts often makes it impractical to identify
every mineral constituent, however, this
petrography -based classification is rarely used
today, and alternatives based on chemical
composition are generally preferred.
Subalkali basalt is a chemical category within
which Hawaiian and other tholeiitic basalts
(defined petrographically) are included.
 Subdividing basalts
According to where it is erupted:
‘ mid -o cean ridge basalt ’ (often abbreviated
to ‘ MORB ’) and ‘ ocean - island basalt’
(OIB)
 Other Related Rocks
The basalt field is surrounded by related fi ne -g rained
rock types which, though not basalts sensu stricto ,
may look similar. They are distinguished chiefly on
chemical criteria, but there may be petrographic clues
too:
• picrobasalts, having lower SiO 2 contents than
basalts (they are ultrabasic in composition), are more
olivine -rich and contain little plagioclase;
• basaltic andesites have mafic minerals similar
to basalts but contain plagioclase of more
sodic composition (typically);

• trachybasalts, basanites and tephrites usually

contain recognizable alkali feldspar or
feldspathoids.
GABBROIC ROCKS
 GABBROIC ROCKS
Gabbros are coarse- grained igneous rocks
equivalent in composition to basalts,
representing basalt magma that has
crystallized slowly at depth.
 THE NOMENCLATURE OF
GABBROIC ROCKS
Gabbro: a coarse- grained igneous rock
consisting essentially of augite + calcic
plagioclase (An > 50%).
Dolerite/Diabase: 1 a medium -g rained
igneous rock consisting essentially of augite +
calcic plagioclase.
Anorthosite: a coarse -g rained igneous rock
consisting of more than 90% plagioclase. 3

Troctolite: a coarse -g rained igneous rock

consisting essentially of calcic plagioclase +
olivine.
 Anorthosites
is a phaneritic, intrusive igneous rock
characterized by its composition:
mostly plagioclase feldspar (An50-70) (90–
100%), with a minimal mafic component (0–
10%). Pyroxene, ilmenite, magnetite,
and olivine are the mafic minerals most
commonly present.
Anorthosites are of enormous geologic
interest, because we still don't fully
understand how they form. Most models
involve separating plagioclase crystals based
on their density. Plagioclase crystals are
usually less dense than magma; so, as
plagioclase crystallizes in a magma chamber,
the plagioclase crystals float to the top,
concentrating there
Norite: a coarse -grained igneous rock
consisting essentially of plagioclase +
orthopyroxene.

Gabbronorite: a coarse -grained igneous

rock consisting essentially of calcic plagioclase
+ augite + e nstatite (both pyroxenes being
present in similar amounts).
The IUGS commends the term ‘ gabbroid ’ as
a provisional field name for gabbro -like
plutonic rocks, pending petrographic analysis
under the microscope.
 Layered Mafic Intrusions
are anorogenic bodies injected into stable
continental cratons at moderate depths. Layered
intrusions include shallow tabular sills and dikes
as well as funnel -shaped lopoliths. These
intrusions commonly contain layers of rocks such
as norite, gabbro, anorthosite, pyroxenite, dunite,
troctolite, harzburgite and lherzolite.
Uniform chromite layers alternate with plagioclase-rich
layers, Bushveld Complex, S. Africa.
The complex contains the world's largest
reserves of platinum-group Elements (PGEs)—
platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, rhodium
, and ruthenium—along with vast quantities
of iron, tin, chromium, titanium and vanadium.
Andesite, Dacite and
Rhyolite
 Andesites
Andesite: a fine - grained, usually mesocratic
igneous rock consisting essentially of
plagioclase + one or more mafic minerals;
 Andesites
Andesites are (after basalts) the second most abundant
volcanic rock type on the Earth (Gill, 1 981 ). Less
evolved andesites may sometimes be difficult to
distinguish from basalts in thin sections;

clues to look for are oscillatory -zoned plagioclase

phenocrysts and significant amounts of orthopyroxene
 2 types of Andesite

1. Boninite
2. Adakite
 Boninites
Most andesites, being more evolved than
basalts, have MgO contents below 5%. An
important exception is the andesite sub -
group known as high -Mg andesite or
boninite.
Bonin Islands in Japan
 Boninites
Being devoid of plagioclase, the rock fails to
meet either of the petrographic definitions of
andesite but with an SiO2 content of 57.6%
it falls squarely within the andesite field in a
TAS plot.
 Boninite: a fine - grained igneous rock
containing abundant orthopyroxene
phenocrysts or microphenocrysts but no
plagioclase, whose composition meets the
following geochemical criteria: (a) SiO 2> 52%;
(b) 25% > MgO > 8%; (c) TiO 2< 0.5%
 Adakites
Adakites have SiO 2 ≥ 56% and Na 2 O ≥ 3.5%
but there is little in their mineralogy to
distinguish them from normal calc -alkali
andesites and dacites. What sets them apart are
conspicuous positive Sr spikes in incompatible-
element enrichment diagrams, and unusually
low contents of the HREE and yttrium (Y).
 Adakites
The relatively high SiO2 contents and
moderate Mg numbers of adakites (in the
range 45 –6 0) suggest that they could
originate from the partial melting of basaltic
source rocks rather than peridotites.

do they imply slab melting?

 Dacite
a fine -grained (usually plagioclase phyric)
leucocratic igneous rock consisting essentially
of sodic plagioclase + quartz; alkali feldspar
if present is subordinate to plagioc.lase
 Rhyolite
a leucocratic igneous rock consisting
essentially of quartz + alkali feldspar
(usually as phenocrysts) in a glassy or
microcrystalline groundmass.
GRANITIC ROCKS
 GRANITIC ROCKS
‘ Granitic ’ rocks – embracing the coarse - and
medium - grained counterparts of andesite,
dacite and rhyolite– are the most abundant
igneous rocks of the Earth’ s continental
crust.
 GRANITIC ROCKS
Simple definitions expressed in words are as
follows:
Diorite: a coarse -grained, usually mesocratic
igneous rock consisting essentially of sodic
plagioclase and one or more mafic minerals;
an abundance of hornblende usually serves to
distinguish diorite from gabbro.
Tonalite: a coarse -grained, mesocratic or
leucocratic igneous rock consisting essentially
of sodic plagioclase and quartz, accompanied
by one or more hydrous mafic minerals.
Granodiorite: a coarse- grained, leucocratic
igneous rock consisting essentially of sodic
plagioclase, potassium feldspar (including
perthite ) and quartz, accompanied by one or
more hydrous mafic minerals; distinguished from
granite by the predominance of plagioclase.
Granite: a coarse -grained, leucocratic igneous
rock consisting essentially of quartz,
potassium feldspar (including perthite) and
plagioclase; a predominance of alkali feldspar
distinguishes it from granodiorite.
Alkali granite: a coarse- grained, leucocratic
igneous rock consisting essentially of quartz
and potassium feldspar (including perthite)
with negligible plagioclase; commonly
confirmed by the presence of distinctive alkali
pyroxene or alkali amphibole.
 Granite Classification
Granites have been subdivided by a number of
methods, one of which attempts to infer
source rock origin. Chappell and White (1974)
and others recognize four distinct types of
granite (M, I, S, and A types) based upon
the nature of the inferred parental
source rock.
 Granite Classification

1. M-type Granites
2. I-type Granites
3. S-type Granites
4. A-type Granites
 M-type Granites
derived from mantle -derived parental magmas, as
indicated in the low Sr 87 /Sr 86 ratios ( < 0.704). M -t
ype granites are associated with calc -a lkaline
tonalites, quartz diorites and gabbroic rocks. In
addition to quartz and feldspars, hornblende,
clinopyroxene, biotite and magnetite are among the
major minerals. M -t ype granites develop in island arc
settings. Copper and gold mineralizations are
associated with M -t ype granites.
 I-type Granites
are generated by the melting of an igneous
protolith from either the downgoing oceanic
lithosphere or the overlying mantle wedge. I-
type granites are enriched in Na 2 O and Ca 2 O
and contain lower Al2O3 concentrations. I -t ype
granites have Sr 87 / Sr 86 ratios of less than
0.708, usually in the range 0.704– 0.706,
indicating magma derived from a mantle source.
 I-type Granites
are generated by the melting of an igneous
protolith from either the downgoing oceanic
lithosphere or the overlying mantle wedge. I-
type granites are enriched in Na 2 O and Ca 2 O
and contain lower Al2O3 concentrations. I -t ype
granites have Sr 87 / Sr 86 ratios of less than
0.708, usually in the range 0.704– 0.706,
indicating magma derived from a mantle source.
Porphyry copper, tungsten and molybdenum
deposits are associated with I -type granites.
I-type granites are prevalent along the
Mesozoic– Cenozoic Andes Mountains.
 S-type Granites
are produced by the melting of sedimentary crustal
rocks in collision zones. S - type granites are depleted
in Na 2 O but enriched in Al 2 O 3 (peraluminous). S -
type granites have Sr 87 /Sr 86 ratios of > 0.708,
indicating that source rocks had experienced an earlier
sedimentary cycle. S- type granites are also known as
two- mica granites in that they commonly contain
both muscovite and biotite, reflecting the
peraluminous content of the sedimentary source rock
rich in phyllosilicate minerals.