Discrimination diagrams for basalts based upon major elements

2 Discrimination diagrams for basalts based upon major elements 

Discrimination diagrams which utilize the major elements are less likely to be successful than those for trace elements, for there is extensive overlap in major element chemistry between MORB, back-arc basin tholeiites and volcanic-arc basalts (Perfit et a/., 1980). This is because there is a large number of possible variables controlling the element concentrations and fewer elements to choose from. Thus it is difficult to identify elements which are either completely immobile or are unaffected by the effects of crystal fractionation. 

Point Funcdon 1 Function 2 Point Function 1 Function 2 

MgO 12wt%, with sums (including H2O) between 99 and 101%. Three discriminant functions, FI, F2 and F3 were identihed 

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