Bowen's Reaction Series.pdf

BOWEN'S R EACTION EACTION  SERIES A ND  T HE HE IGNEOUS R OCK OCK F ORMING ORMING  MINERALS Ferro-Magnesium (Mafic) Minerals light green, glassy, often as small grains

Non-Ferro-Magnesium (Feldspar) Minerals

Olivine isolated Si0

dark green/black; dull blocky; 90o cleavage

Ca Plagioclase

4

dark, almost black to light gray; 90o cleavage; striations and/or irridesence

Pyroxene singlechain

black, shiny, elongate, crystals; 60-120 o cleavage

Ca/Na

Amphiboledoublechain

black, very shiny, in  thin very smooth sheets

BiotiteSheet

pink, white, greenish; two cleavages 90 o; opaque

Na Plagioclase

glassy, clear, often appears gray in rocks; no cleavage

white; 90 o cleavage; striations sometimes; appears translucent

Orthoclase Muscovite Quartz

white; 90 o cleavage; striations sometimes; appears translucent

white to brassy thin sheets; clear; very smooth