THE ADAPTATION OF PEARCE ELEMENT RATIO DIAGRAMS TO COMPLEX HIGH SILICA SYSTEMS

Pearce element ratios (PERs, of Pearce 1968) express geochemical data in a form where variations in absolute compositions of an igneous suite can be evaluated. Generally the denominator value in the ratio is taken as a major element abundance, but it is argued here that Zr provides a more suitable choice. Zr remains incompatible in magmatic systems up to almost-equal-to 68 wt.% SiO2 because zircon fractionation can be suppressed by high melt temperatures and increased volatile contents. The use of Zr thus permits PER modelling to be extended to much higher levels of silica than previously investigated. However, such systems are more complex than those just involving simple basaltic magmas. Besides fractionation, the processes of magma mixing, combined assimilation and fractional crystallization, and the initial degree of partial melting in the mantle source must also be considered. To distinguish and evaluate these processes a set of example suites are investigated from a complex synextensional calc-alkaline province in the western USA. Samples within most individual suites can be modelled by fractionation, however a significant trend orthogonal to the main fractionation vector is also apparent, and open system processes are inferred. Successful modelling is achieved on an inter-suite basis using diagrams with axis functions of ([4(Ca + Na) + 0.5(Fe + Mg)]/Zr versus (Si + Al)/Zr). Potential open system evolution paths between mafic end members and crustal contaminants are also displayed and evaluated on these same diagrams. The encouraging results suggest that such PER diagrams may be employed as a versatile tool for investigating the systematics of related igneous suites over a wide area.