Geochemistry

The concentrations of major elements of the studied rocks are presented in Table 4. Based on both (Na2O + K2O) vs SiO2 (Le Bas et al., 1986) and R1-R2 diagrams (De La Roche et al., 1980) all the samples are classified as rhyolites, rhyodacite, dacites and rarely andesite (Fig.4a, 4b). In terms of aluminum saturation concept (A/CNK molecular ratios), they are predominantly metaluminous to mild peraluminous (0.62- 1.08). Based on Irvine and Baragar’s classification (1971), all the analysed rocks plot in the subalkaline and calc-alkaline fields. The content of SiO2 in these rocks varies from 56.27 to 70.08 wt%.

Figure 4. Classification of the studied volcanic rocks.

Classification of the studied volcanic rocks.

Total alkali-silica diagram (TAS: Le Bas et al., 1986) for the volcanic rocks. Dashed line = subalkaline- alkaline divide (Irvin and Baragar, 1971);

Classification of the studied volcanic rocks.

R1-R2 diagram (De La Roche et al., 1980)


Figure 5. Harker variation diagrams

Harker variation diagrams

Harker variation diagrams (Major oxides) for the studied volcanic rocks.


In all the samples, the K2O content increases with increasing SiO2, whereas the amounts of CaO, Al2O3, MgO, TiO2 and Fe2O3 decrease, reflecting the fractional crystallization of hornblende, plagioclase and biotite (Fig.5).

It seems that partial melting of the continental crust led to the formation of dacite parent magma which intruded into shallow-level magma chambers and fractionated. The dacite parent magma mingled with the small volume of mafic magma intruded into magma chamber.

Table 4. Chemical analyses of the Plio-Quaternary volcanic rocks (Central Iran)

  Surk   Abdollah Buragh Ernan     G-Aliabad   Ostaj   S-Ernan Shamsabad
Sample A-10 C-1 Ab-4 Bu-1 Er-4 Re-4 Er-7 Ga-22 Ga-7 Os-1 Os-10 SE-4 Sh-9
SiO2 67.27 67.81 69.73 65.85 70.08 70.08 69.39 63.4 56.27 69.78 69.87 68.53 69.03
TiO2 0.42 0.39 0.31 0.31 0.34 0.34 0.32 0.45 0.63 0.31 0.33 0.3 0.3
Al2O3 15.46 14.69 14.98 15.91 15.24 15.33 14.97 16.06 17.48 13.96 14.6 15.21 15.3
Fe2O3 3.69 3.02 2.18 3.91 2.64 2.57 2.85 4.96 7.95 2.53 2.5 2.7 2.74
MnO 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.07 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.09 0.14 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.02
MgO 0.86 0.93 1.04 0.86 0.45 0.45 0.57 1.37 2.51 0.84 0.79 0.61 0.8
CaO 3.07 3.23 2.6 4.17 2.84 2.84 3.24 5.37 7.42 2.27 2.75 2.71 3.44
Na2O 4.18 3.97 3.75 4.18 4.48 4.49 4.56 4.64 4.34 3.91 4.04 5.03 3.75
K2O 3.27 3.39 2.7 1.9 2.44 2.42 2.61 1.78 1.57 3.61 3.39 2.01 2.45
P2O5 0.18 0.17 0.11 0.17 0.14 0.13 0.12 0.21 0.36 0.15 0.19 0.1 0.1
LOI 1.3 2.4 2.4 2.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.4 1 2.5 2.5 2.7 1.9
Total 99.74 99.82 99.73 99.74 99.79 99.79 99.76 99.73 99.67 99.9 100 99.93 99.83