Estimation of Magma Temperature Using Zircon Morphology
- Key words
- Exploration; Magma; Heat Source; Volcanics; Geothermometer; Igneous; Otake; Hatchobaru; Japan; Zircon Morphology
- Location
- Otake-Hatchobaru, Japan
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1990
- Session
- Exploration; Geological surveys; Geothermometers; Mineralogy
- Language
- English
Abstract
The temperature of magma reservoirs can be estimated according to the morphology of zircon crystals contained in igneous rocks. The prism index (PI) of a crystal is defined as the ratio of the sum of the four (100) widths to the total length of the prism perimeter. Within a temperature range from 600°C to 900°C, the magma temperature is given by T (C) = 300xPI + 600. This geothermometers is particularly useful for zircons from felsic rocks whose magma temperatures are not high. Practical applications to volcanic rocks from the Otake Hatchobaru area in Japan suggest that low temperature magma reservoirs are more effective heat source for geothermal systems than high temperature ones.
Copyright 1990, Geothermal Resources Council. Readers who download papers from this site should honour the copyright of the original authors, and may not copy or distribute the work further without the permission of the original publisher.