Magmatic processes forming replacement textures with fluorite alignments in feldspars in an evolved trachyte from Oki-Dogo Island, Sea of Japan

Abstract

Internal microtextures of ternary alkali feldspars in sanidine trachyte from Oki-Dogo Island were examined using an electron microprobe analyzer, a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope and cathodoluminescence instruments, to develop the understanding of volcanic processes of alkaline magmas related to feldspar crystallization. The examined trachyte is an evolved rock of the Oki-Dogo Pliocene trachyte group. Its phenocryst feldspars are commonly associated with lamellar-wavy-domain textures with scales approximately from 100 nm up to several hundreds of μm that show complex and gradual variations in composition: however, anti-rapakivi zoning textures common in other Oki-Dogo alkaline rocks are almost completely absent in the trachyte. These textures are produced by extensive magmatic ion-exchange replacement reactions progressively advanced in the evolved magma. Characteristic braided fluorite alignments are developed consistently with lamellar-wavy-domain textures in phenocryst feldspars, and similar braided alignments are also present in groundmass feldspars with complicated microtextures. Most of fluorite grains are <100 nm in diameter, and the patterns of braided fluorite alignments vary greatly in individual feldspars. The whole occurrence of the feldspar microtextures represents an extreme example of diffusion-controlled replacement reactions, progressively advanced in the dry (relatively anhydrous) trachyte magma. The genetic processes forming fluorite alignments in feldspars are related to magma compositions, especially F and P contents, and the crystallization of F-bearing minerals, especially of fluorapatite.