TRACE ELEMENT VARIATION IN PLAGIOCLASE PHENOCRYSTS FROM IGNIMBRITES FROM THE MOGOLLON-DATIL VOLCANIC FIELD, SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, USA: INSIGHTS INTO THE PROCESSES AND TIMESCALES OF MAGMATISM
The Dacite-Rhyolite sequence (36.5 Ma) is a crystal-rich, high-K, calc-alkaline rhyolite consisting of six tuffs and tuff-breccias. The basal member is a densely welded, tuff-breccia and the remaining members are vitric-crystal tuffs. Mineralogically, this sequence contains plagioclase>quartz>biotite>>hornblende and trace orthopyroxene. The youngest member also contains abundant sanidine.
The Latite-Andesite sequence (36.2 Ma) is a crystal-rich, high-K, calc-alkaline suite of four volcanic units. The basal member consists of a crystal-rich, trachy-andesite lava. The remaining members of the sequence contain blocks of the underlying lava and lithics from the Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Mineralogically, the tuff-breccia’s contains plagioclase>alkali feldspar>quartz> biotite>hornblende>orthopyroxene. The lava flow contains plagioclase>alkali feldspar> hornblende>biotite>>quartz.
Geochemically, the plagioclase phenocryst populations of the two volcanic sequences are distinct. Within the six analysis from the dacite-rhyolite sequence there is no correlation between crystal population and whole-rock magma chemistry. However, within the latite-andesite sequence there are three distinct plagioclase populations; low An(0-10), An(50-60), and one population of high An(95-100) concentration. These data suggest a complex magma reservoir erupting the latite-andesite sequence.